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This preview was written by Brian Judson

The following is a tabulation of all our results against Bradford City. As can be seen, we had not played Bradford City in the old First Division since they were relegated from that Division at the conclusion of season 1921-22 until playing them for the first time in the Premier League last season.

Previous Results
       Div     H    A
1909-10    1  0-0  1-5
1910-11    1  2-0  0-3
1911-12    1  2-3  0-3
1912-13    1  2-1  1-3
1913-14    1  0-0  1-2
1914-15    1  0-0  2-2
1920-21    1  2-0  0-2
1921-22    1  1-0  4-0
1929-30    2  1-1  2-0
1930-31    2  3-1  0-2
1931-32    2  1-5  0-2
1932-33    2  1-1  1-0
1935-36    2  4-0  1-0
1936-37    2  5-1  2-2
99-2000 PREM  1-1  1-1

Prem           Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            1   0   1   0     1-1    1
Away            1   0   1   0     1-1    1
===========================================
Total (Prem)    2   0   2   0     2-2    2
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)    8   4   3   1     9-4   11
Away (Div 1)    8   1   1   6     9-20   4
===========================================
Total (Div 1)  16   5   4   7    18-24  15
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)    6   3   2   1    15-9    8
Away (Div 2)    6   3   1   2     6-6    7
===========================================
Total (Div 2)  12   6   3   3    21-15  15
===========================================
Total (Prem)    2   0   2   0     2-2    2
Total (Div 1)  16   5   4   7    18-24  15
Total (Div 2)  12   6   3   3    21-15  15
===========================================
Grand Total    30  11   9  10    41-41  31 
===========================================

There have been other meetings with Bradford City. The following results are our Cup games with them :

FA Cup

Season   Rd  H/A   Result Goalscorers

1920-21  2    H     4-0   Seed 3, Banks
1969-70  3    A     2-2   Greaves, Morgan
         3R   H     5-0   Pearce 2, Greaves 2, Morgan
1988-89  3    A     0-1 

FL Cup

Season   Rd  H/A   Result Goalscorers 

1990-91  3    H     2-1   Gascoigne Stewart

If ever there was a match tailor-made for our first League away victory of the season, it ought to be this game. Bradford City seem unable to win many games due to a lack of thrust up front. Collymore is due to begin a three match suspension earned in respect of a misdemeanour in his final game for Leicester City. But Spurs being Spurs may well succumb to their perennial problem of failing to beat teams in the bottom half of the table.

Spurs are expected to recall Rebrov and Thatcher to the squad following their absence for the match at Old Trafford. Both have had their problems in settling into their new surroundings. Thatcher's problem seems to be one of being over-awed by his team mates and surroundings whilst Rebrov seems to be a victim of Tottenham's failure to bring out the best in his ability. Spurs fans should not despair of the pair because it has happened before and will, doubtlessly, happen again. It took Pat Jennings two seasons before he finally settled down at Tottenham and at least a season for expensive imports such as Cliff Jones, John White and Alan Gilzean to show their best form.

Bradford City have Ian Nolan and Ashley Ward available again after injury but Gareth Whalley will be out for at least eight weeks with a hernia injury that will require an operation. Despite their expensive imports and drastic surgery on last season's team, they have not yet showed signs of improving on last season's performance. It was in fact only their shock 1-0 win over Liverpool that saved them from them from the drop but it should also be noted they won two and drew one of the four matches played immediately before that match, including a crucial 3-0 victory over Wimbledon.

The most crucial encounter we have had against Bradford City in the past is probably the 2nd Round FA Cup tie we played against them at White Hart Lane in season 1920-21. A local paper reported that match as follows:

"Seed, the Tottenham inside-right, achieved a great personal triumph at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The City were defeated by four goals to nil, and Seed obtained three of the four. He did much more than that. He was the life and soul of the attack. In the first forty-five minutes Bradford played a fine defensive game but in the second half Seed brought about their demoralization by scoring a couple of goals within two minutes of the resumption of play.

"The first dramatic happening came when Cantrell and his colleagues swept down the field, and ere the City defence had settled down Seed had profited by a mistake by McIlvenny, the left-half, to obtain possession, and in a flash the ball was in the net. Cheers rolled round the ground, and Seed gave the onlookers more to cheer about. Not more than thirty seconds could have elapsed when Seed fastened on the ball, and squeezing between the backs he gave Ewart no possible chance with a beautifully-placed shot.

"Banks put on a third goal and Seed completed a wonderful afternoon's work with a third goal for himself and the fourth for his side when he accepted a neat pass from Cantrell, and from quite twenty-five yards out beat Ewart all ends up."

© Julian Holland
'Spurs - A History of Tottenham Hotspur'
Published 1956

And the outcome of tomorrow's match? On paper, Spurs ought to win 2-0 at least but we all know from bitter experience that such hopes are often extinguished through silly mistakes in the closing stages of the match. I think I'd be happy to settle for another draw given our relatively poor form away from home but will be keeping my fingers crossed that we will win this match!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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