SATURDAY 20TH JANUARY, 2001
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0) SOUTHAMPTON 0 (0)

Referee:- Mr C. Wilkes

Attendance:- 36,095

Teams:-
Spurs (3-5-2):- Walker; Perry, Doherty, Campbell; Young, Anderton, Freund (sub Leonhardsen, 76), King, Clemence; Rebrov, Ferdinand (sub McEwen, 20)

Subs not used:- Segers; Thatcher; Davies

No bookings

Southampton (3-5-2):- Jones; Lundekvam, Dodd, Richards; Khalej, Kachloul (sub Pahars, 82), Draper, Oakley, Bridge; Davies, Beattie

Subs not used:- Moss; Marsden, Soltvedt, Rosler

Booked:- Richards (foul on Rebrov)

The official club "spin" on this affair will be that Spurs have maintained their unbeaten record this calendar year; their longest unbeaten run at home since the 77-78 season; and that they have also kept three consecutive clean sheets. All of these are facts, of course, but this fare bore as much resemblance to entertainment as Amy Turtle did as a decent actress in Crossroads (ask your Mum about that one!). Another fact is that Spurs are stuck in a mid-table rut. At least home fans experienced the lack of quality that away fans have seen so often this season.

Things looked so promising when the teams were announced. Sol was back. So was Les, and whilst I was hoping to see Simon Davies replace the suspended Sherwood, the return of Steffen Freund did at least lead one to suspect there would be some backbone in the middle. Ian Walker is the only Spurs man who could have left the field with a sense of satisfaction today, as he made at least four good saves, two of which resulted from poor defence by Doherty and Perry, and overall looked very sharp.

Glenn Hoddle's side were more than a match for us, as he easily neutralised our main form of attack through the wing-backs. Whenever Clemence or Young moved forward, there always seemed to be three Saints in opposition. Young is nowhere near the standard of absentee Carr, who is being sorely missed. Indeed, the visitors easily had the best chances to score, but as the match wore on, they became more defensive, and the old cliché "bore draw" was never more appropriate.

Paul Jones was the first of the keepers to be called into action as he dived low to save a Campbell header at his left hand post, from a corner. Southampton once again exploited Clemence's defensive frailties down the left, and Walker was sharp to save Khalej's early right wing cross/shot. Kachloul was allowed to get a dangerous cross in after a miscued Freund clearance, and Walker saved before the danger was cleared after a goalmouth scramble.

Les Ferdinand did not last long, and I assume that risk management was deployed in allowing him to play. Once he was replaced by McEwen (sadly ineffective against this opposition), a lot of the sting was taken out of the Spurs attack. For example after 9 minutes, Les headed down a Walker clearance for Rebrov who hit a quick and powerful right foot shot that just curled away from the post.

Spurs were on the back foot again, as Kachloul collected Freund's poor pass only 25 yards in front of his goal; carried the ball 50 yards forward, found Khalej on the right, whose cross was met at the back post by Davies, who headed just wide. Gary Doherty was given the central defender's role in the first half, but looked less comfortable than in recent games. He and Sol swapped places for the second half, but midway through the first Gary gifted a back pass to Beattie, whose shot was very well saved by Walker at his left hand post. Walker was in action again to save from Matthew Oakley lurking on the edge of the box where he collected a clearance from a free kick conceded by Clemence, who had not been punished for a shoulder barge inside the area on Beattie, but who was punished for a similar challenge outside the box on Kachloul.

Clemence did test Jones at the other end with a shot of his own. Again, this attack came from a long clearance, and Jones could only push the ball out for a corner. Perry did his best to emulate Doherty, when he too gifted the ball to Davies, who tried to chip Walker, but Ian leapt to catch comfortably.

The half time "Hit the Crossbar" competition was more entertaining, especially as Spurs fan Leo (about 60) struggled to hit the ball more than 3 yards, let alone get near the goal. When MC Martin Chivers encouraged us to enjoy an entertaining second half, some wag said "Has the game started then?"

Whilst there were half chances for McEwen (from an Anderton cross), and Rebrov (shot from a Young cross), there was very little worth reporting upon from the second half. James Beattie stayed on the floor for a long time after a heavy challenge from (I think) Doherty, but any penalty claims were denied, and Ledley King looped a header from a Rebrov cross onto the top of the bar. That was about it. Leonhardsen replaced Freund with 14 minutes to go, but then hardly featured. Passes were not finding targets; players needed too long on the ball and got closed down efficiently; and Darren Anderton, back in the middle where he says he likes to play, totally missed the opportunity to shine in this company.

Still - look on the bright side - every remaining game at The Lane this season will be better. I am sure of it!

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