How they got there:-

Coventry  0 2 Chelsea
Chelsea   2 0 Leeds
Chelsea   1 0 Newcastle

   Spurs 2 0 Torquay
Tranmere 0 4 Spurs
  Fulham 1 2 Spurs
   Spurs 6 0 Bolton

Chelsea's Last Six League Games:-

Sunderland  0 0 Chelsea
Chelsea     4 0 Liverpool
Chelsea     5 1 Bolton
Arsenal     2 1 Chelsea
Newcastle   1 2 Chelsea
Chelsea     2 4 Southampton

Apart from the recent glitch against Southampton, and their 0-0 draw at Carrow Road against Norwich in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Chelsea have been in very good form recently, after their relatively poor start to the season, when they were too inconsistent, and they drew too many matches. Mr Ranieri has given full commitment to this tournament, and obvioulsy intends to go all out for a Cardiff Cup Final appearance. Chelsea have yet to concede a goal in this competition this season, and with both Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink in goal-scoring form, Spurs face an incredibly difficult task at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night. I think we will do very well to come away with a draw. Let's hope for one or two away goals!

Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game:-

Our previous League Cup results have been as follows:

SEASON  ROUND   VENUE   RESULT

1971-72 SF/1      A       2-3
        SF/2      H       2-2
1990-91   5       A       0-0
          5R      H       0-3

Those who saw the 1971-72 Semi-Final ties will not wish to recall them. In the first leg, Peter Osgood opened the scoring in the first half. Spurs then struck back in the second half with two goals in three minutes. Terry Naylor hit the only goal he scored for Spurs and Martin Chivers put us ahead. But in a grandstand finish, Chelsea scored twice in the last fifteen minutes. The first goal was scored by Chris Garland, his first goal for the club, and John Hollins converted a penalty after Naylor had handled the ball in the Tottenham penalty area. I was convinced at the time the ball had bounced up off a divot rather than Naylor deliberately handled the ball.

The second leg was even more dramatic. The two Martins, Chivers and Peters, twice put us ahead. Peters' goal came from the penalty spot. Garland scored the first equaliser. The second equaliser was highly controversial. Spurs conceded a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The referee awarded an INDIRECT free-kick. Alan Hudson took the free-kick and Cyril Knowles, who could have cleared the ball, let it trickle into his own goal. The referee conveniently forgot he had awarded an indirect free-kick and pointed to the centre-circle. Unsurprisingly, the Spurs players swarmed round him, volubly protesting. But the goal stood and Chelsea went through to the Final, where they lost to Stoke City, thanks to a very rare George Eastham goal.

In our other tie in this competition, we played Chelsea in the 5th Round in January 1991. This was about the time the rumours began to circulate about the size of the Spurs debt and the long struggle to find a White Knight to save the club from bankruptcy. We drew 0-0 at the Bridge. Highlights of the match were due to be shown on ITV that night but were cancelled because of the outbreak of the Gulf War and the incessant reporting of hostilities in Iraq and Kuwait. I didn't go to the match. The replay was a week later. Spurs were thrashed. It could have been more than 3-0 on the night. Andy Townsend and Kerry Dixon, the latter having been released by Spurs as a trainee, scored one apiece and Dennis Wise converted a penalty. Of the two sides playing that night, only Gazza (at Everton), Stuart (at Charlton) and Wise (at Leicester) are still playing, although Beasant recently provided cover for Neil Sullivan at Tottenham when Kasey Keller was injured. One of our substitutes that night was later to score from the halfway line in a Cup Final - NAYIM!

We have, of course, played Chelsea many times in the FA Cup, including the 1967 FA Cup Final, when Spurs should have thrashed Chelsea! And, of course, we had that brilliant Quarter-Final in 1982 when we scored three goals in quick succession at the Bridge!

League form will, of course, go out of the window for the Cup tie. We may not have beaten Chelsea in the League for over 10 years but that run will have to end sometime. Their recent form has been very erratic, not the least being the 4-2 home defeat by Southampton ........

I take Spurs to snatch a draw at Stamford Bridge. I wish I could be there with you but at least I can watch the proceedings on ITV and cheer Spurs on!

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

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