FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST, 2000
MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (1)

Middlesbrough scorer:-
Summerbell, 59

Spurs scorer:-
Leonhardsen, 41

Referee:- Peter Jones

Attendance:- 31,254

Teams:-
Middlesbrough (4-4-2):- Schwarzer; Fleming, Vickers, Pallister (capt), O'Neill; Job (sub Whelan, 86), Okon, Summerbell, Karembeu; Ricard (sub Campbell, 81), Deane

Subs not used:- Crossley (GK); Stamp, Gavin

Booked:- Summerbell (foul), Okon (foul)

Spurs (4-4-2):- Sullivan; Carr, Perry, Campbell (capt), Thatcher; Anderton, Sherwood, Freund, Leonhardsen; Rebrov (sub Ferdinand, 75), Iversen

Subs not used:- Walker; Taricco, Vega, Clemence

Booked:- Iversen (foul)

Middlesbrough's new signings Joseph-Desire Job, and Christian Karembeu caught the eye for the hosts in the first and second half respectively, but it was a home grown replacement Mark Summerbell who equalised Leonhardsen's goal with an hour on the clock. In truth, one could not argue with the result. Spurs took 20 minutes to get going. Middlesbrough had more pace in the middle, but their finishing rarely tested Sullivan. Spurs persisted with trying to become an intricate passing side, but too often their last ball fell into opposition ground, and the Spurs midfield lacked the pace to resist counter attacks. The Spurs defence generally held its line well, although Sol Campbell was guilty of several unforced errors. Thatcher too made a few mistakes, but he did redeem himself on the whole with some fine saving tackles.

Spurs fielded an unchanged team and substitutes, whereas Middlesbrough rested Alen Boksic, and had to leave captain Paul Ince out of the team. Ricard tested Sol in a similar way to Johnson last Saturday, as both are players who like to have their back to goal, receive and turn. Spurs put themselves under too much pressure at times, with needless free kicks conceded in dangerous areas.

There was an early chance for Ricard, as Campbell failed to make Job's cross his own, showing uncharacteristic indecision. Job had the next chance as he raced past Steffen Freund, and forced a save from Sullivan. It is no coincidence that Spurs first decent attack (after 18 minutes)resulted from Stephen Carr's efforts. He and Anderton combined on the right, and Sherwood chipped to Rebrov, who overran the ball. After this point, Spurs dominated the first half, as Anderton and Sherwood exchanged creative responsibility, and indeed exchanged some telling passes. Anderton crossed for a Sherwood header that went across the area, and Leonhardsen following up hit a cross-shot off target.

Spurs at last started to use the width of the pitch, as a long ball to Thatcher was quickly crossed for an Iversen free header that went over the bar, when he should have scored. Anderton dragged a shot wide of the post from a Rebrov head-down, and Darren then nearly reached a clever Sherwood chip over the defence.

The deserved lead came after 40 minutes, when Carr passed to Iversen from the half-way line, Iversen quickly fed the ball to Rebrov on the right, and his super cross was headed home by Leonhardsen. Carr had caused a little havoc in the Middlesbrough box shortly before the goal with a run-in similar to that which led to his goal last Saturday.

Two minutes into the restart, Sol Campbell did well winning and bringing the ball out of his box, but then underhit his pass, allowing O'Neill to take advantage and cross to Deane who hit wide with Sullivan struggling. Sullivan then did well to hold a Karembeu shot following a short corner.

The home crowd were getting behind their team, and the equaliser came from a lightning attack. Karembeu pushed the ball out to the advancing Fleming on the right, and his short cross was confidently headed into Sullivan's left corner by Summerbell. There was little in the way of a convincing response by Spurs. Freund, Iversen and Rebrov had a good exchange from a goal-kick, which led to decent Iversen shot just over the bar, but then Fleming eased his way past Thatcher and Leonhardsen to get into the area, but fortunately overhit his effort.

Les Ferdinand replaced Sergei Rebrov, and did put a bit of spark into the attack. It would seem that George Graham is going to rotate his strikers within individual games, providing we can keep enough of them fit! Les did seize upon a Stephen Carr shot to flick it into the net, but he had been flagged offside. The last chance came for Spurs as Leo teed up Carr, whose cross was fired over by Steffen Iversen.

At this very early stage in the season, Spurs are listed as second in the league, only behind Middlesbrough on alphabetical order!

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