SATURDAY 28TH APRIL, 2001
FA CARLING PREMEIRSHIP
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 (0) ASTON VILLA 0 (0)

Referee:- C. Wilkes

Attendance:- 36,096

Teams:-
Spurs (4-3-2-1):- Sullivan; Carr, Doherty, Gardner, Young; Davies (sub Thelwell, 75), Sherwood (Capt.), Clemence; Korsten, Leonhardsen; Ferdinand (sub Etherington, 75)

Subs not used:- Walker; Hillier; Piercy

Booked:- Young (Foul)

Aston Villa (4-4-2):- James; Delaney, Southgate (Capt.), Barry, Wright; Merson, Taylor, Boateng, Staunton (sub Ginola, 80); Dublin, Vassell (sub Joachim, 80)

Subs not used:- Enckleman (GK); Samuel; Stone

No bookings

Some fickle Spurs fans around me actually started to boo their young side off the pitch at the end of this game. Those boos soon subsided for heartfelt applause for former hero, and true Spur, David Ginola, who as expected, received a standing ovation when he came on with ten minutes left to play. But what about those who booed their own side? Don't they realise that this is a scratch side, drawn from extremely limited resources available at this time? Yes - Willem Korsten had an average game. Yes - Leonhardsen and Clemence suffered at times with woeful touch, but let us look at the positive aspects of this game.

The defence was pretty solid, limiting Villa's chances until the second half, allowing Sullivan to be almost untroubled in the first session. Anthony Gardner impressed again, with aerial ability, strength, ball winning skills, and not a little passing play as well. Doherty was also solid, and put himself about to good effect when he moved up front to replace the tiring Ferdinand. Les, who we had not been expecting to play, was so important to us in the first half, as he won almost everything in the air, and held and passed the ball to enable several decent attacks. Luke Young made a number of adventurous runs, and if anything Stephen Carr was the least impressive of the back four, as he still finds his way back to true form after injury. Carr was not allowed too far forward for much of the game, as Korsten was stationed in front of him. Sherwood and Clemence were gritty in the middle, and did not allow too much past them. Simon Davies had one of his better games, and was unlucky to be substituted, when either Korsten or Leo were better candidates for the chop, in my view.

Glenn played the same formation as last week. Korsten and Leo switched in the middle of the second half, but Korsten irritated me, as he was not observant of what was going on around him for ages. The instruction had been given to switch, but he was in his own world for two minutes before he realised what was required of him!

The only Premiership issue at stake was Villa's thin chance of a UEFA place. Their first half performance gave no clues that they had anything to play for, but John Gregory's half time shake up was effective, as Neil Sullivan was the busier keeper after the interval. Merson, of course was booed at every touch, but the Villa midfield is pacy, and always pressing. Dublin was well contained, but Vassell up front was a handful at times.

Spurs had good chances to score in the first half. The first came after three minutes, when Sherwood battled to win the ball, fed to Davies, whose cross from the right was met by Sir Les, who could only hit a half strength shot wide. Five minutes later, some slick Spurs passing led to a header on target from Clemence as he met Korsten's right field cross. Whilst much of the play was sterile, it was Spurs who had the better attacks, and a patient build up on the right involving Sherwood, and Korsten led to Stephen Carr's cross being headed over by Les Ferdinand. Carr was the provider for Leonhardsen who got into the box, and was only prevented from scoring by a brave David James diving at his feet.

Les Ferdinand missed the best chance when he fired over from just three yards, as he stretched to reach Simon Davies' shot which was going wide. The nearest Villa got to a goal was when Sullivan dropped a Staunton corner, but Spurs cleared.

Soon after the interval, Ferdinand got on the end of a Clemence free kick, but could get no power in his header which went to James. Spurs started to lose their defensive composure, and after 62 minutes, Davies failed to come for a Sherwood pass, and Taylor was allowed a run at goal. Luckily he fired a couple of feet over the bar. Spurs were denied a good handball appeal when Wright seemed to control the ball illegally in front of the Paxton Stand, but referee Wilkes was having none of it. Indeed, he and his assistants seemed to lean Villa's way on several decisions.

After 73 minutes, there was super double save for Spurs. Merson was unmarked on the right, and Sullivan dived to his right to parry the ex-Arsenal man's powerful shot. Young leapt over the ball in fear of putting it into his own net, but it ran to Vassell, who shot, only to see Luke make the ground and clear off the line. Suddenly the atmosphere heightened but it was soon to cool down again, on this cool, windy and wet late Spring day. Etherington was slow off the mark when James dropped the ball at his feet, and then all there was time for was David Ginola's cameo appearance. He managed a good cross over the defence from the right, which Alan Wright fired across goal into the trouble zone, only for Spurs to clear their lines. David also managed a 25 yard shot on target, which was no problem for Neil Sullivan - surely a candidate for Spurs player of the season.

I hope for warmer weather on the last day of the season, when we entertain Manchester United. I have not been in "shirt-sleeve order" since Day One.

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