SATURDAY 17TH FEBRUARY, 2001
AXA FA CUP 5TH ROUND
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 (3) STOCKPORT COUNTY 0 (0)

Spurs scorers:-
King, 5
Davies, 30, 50
Flynn (o.g), 44

Referee:- Mr C. Wilkes

Attendance:- 36,040

Teams:-
Spurs (3-5-2):- Sullivan; Doherty, Campbell, King; Young, Freund, Sherwood, Leonhardsen (sub Davies, 15), Clemence; Rebrov (sub Korsten, 88), Ferdinand, (sub Thelwell, 67)

Subs not used:- Walker; Etherington

Booked:- Doherty (adjudged to have fouled Flynn, 68)

Stockport (3-5-2):- Jones; Flynn (Capt), Clare, Grayson; Gibb (sub Connelly, 62), Cooper (sub Carrigan, 83), Nicholson, Wiss, Clark (sub Fradin, 55); Wilbraham, Kuqi

Subs not used:- Dibble(GK); Smith

Booked:- Flynn (foul on Leonhardsen), Clare (foul on Rebrov)

In the words of Sky Sports commentator, Martin Tyler, the 2001 Spurs Odyssey goes on! (Wonder where he got that from?). With the absence of Chris Perry, Stephen Carr, and Darren Anderton to name just three, and against opponents who are struggling to maintain their First Division status, this surely was the perfect opportunity to give Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington (both of whom showed good form for the reserves this week) a start. Simon Davies was to have a massive impact on the game with his superb scoring double, but his entrance pass to the field of play was only given begrudgingly, and then only because of an early injury to Oyvind Leonhardsen. Matthew Etherington had to sit out the whole game, when he could so easily have been given a run with the side 4-0 up early in the second half.

Stockport captain Mike Flynn was twice a villain and once a victim in this game. He was justifiably booked for the crippling late tackle that led to Leonhardsen's departure, and could so easily have been sent off. In a sense perhaps justice was served when Flynn put the ball into his own net just before half time, and also when he took a painful kick in the midriff from Gary Doherty in the second half, who got booked, when I felt he was fairly going for the ball inside the 6 yard box. (By this time, Doherty had been pushed up when the tiring Les Ferdinand was replaced by Alton Thelwell). Doherty had a good all round game, making piercing runs from the back, and maintaining his influence when pushed up for the last 25 minutes.

Spurs broke the ice after 4 minutes, when a free kick was awarded for a foul on Rebrov wide on the right. Stephen Clemence is appointed dead ball maestro in the absence of Anderton, and this time he delivered well for Ledley King to rise easily above the stagnant County defence, and glance a header across the keeper into the corner. Whilst the scoreline suggests something of a massacre, the fact is that Spurs did not bother the keeper too often, but scored from most of their chances. After 21 minutes, Les Ferdinand put Stephen Clemence into a good position, and Clemence advanced into the left side of the area, jigged round a defender or two, but had his shot parried by Jones for a corner.

Number 29 scored a second for Spurs after 29 minutes! Les Ferdinand collected a lofted pass from the half way line from Rebrov, and flicked the ball to Davies, who coolly controlled it first of all with a header, checked where the goal was, and hit a smart shot between two defenders into the far left corner of goal. This was of course, Simon's first goal for the club, and he was naturally and justifiably delighted. His score ratio is noticeably more impressive than one of his colleagues who has a considerably higher number of hours on the pitch than young Simon. Yes - I refer to Steffen Freund. Much as we love him, it is about time he scored. He didn't even get near goal today. Maybe he'll score the winner at Cardiff against the gooners?

Stockport gamely tried to lessen the deficit, and were helped when Clemence gave away a corner somewhat cheaply after 33 minutes. Nicholson took the kick and Finnish International Shefki Kuqi (doesn't sound very Finnish to me) met the ball and headed over without seeming to be too aware of what he was doing. Sullivan was the next to try and help out the lesser team, when he tried to find Luke Young with a throw, but instead found Nicholson, who passed to Kuqi lurking on the left. The cross was headed wide by Wiss, who clutched his face agonising over the good chance he had missed.

Sven-Goren Eriksson was watching this game, presumably concentrating on Sol Campbell, who had a steady performance, but maybe Ledley King also caught his attention for the future, with what manager George Graham later called a "real class performance".

The Flynn own goal came after Young and Rebrov exchanged on the right win from a throw-in, and Flynn diverted Young's cross into the net. In fairness, Les Ferdinand was right behind him, and Flynn had to get a touch on the ball.

The best goal of the game (and possibly the best Spurs goal this season) came five minutes into the second half. Luke Young passed inside to Sherwood on the half way line. Sherwood hit a long pass down the inside right channel, and Davies chased and controlled the ball beautifully with the top of his boot. He swept on past Clare, and hit a cracking right foot shot across the keeper into the net. Great goal!

Naturally, the atmosphere became somewhat stale. The fans have amended the "Spurs are on their way to Wembley" song to read "Cardiff" now, and most of the cup repertoire was aired. As the hour approached Doherty, receiving from Sherwood, made a lovely run into the area, couldn't quite get into a shooting position, passed back for Clemence, who needed that left foot as usual, giving the ball to the keeper, when anyone else would have scored. The home fans were ringing out the "Oles" as a long passing build up culminated with Sherwood to Rebrov, and Sergei setting Clemence up, only to find him again on the wrong foot! Doh!

For the visitors Kevin Cooper picked the ball up in midfield and skipped to the right of the area, hitting a decent left foot shot that Sullivan pushed round for a corner to play safe. Cooper picked up an ankle injury as a result of a stretching challenge from Davies trying to prevent the shot. After 75 minutes, Gary Doherty won the ball in the middle, headed down to Sherwood, who returned the ball for another Doherty run. This time he got a shot on target, but the keeper saved with his legs. In the closing stages Luke Young had a hooked shot blocked from a Clemence cross that followed yet another Doherty run.

Kuqi had one headed effort just before the final whistle, which Sullivan saved with the upward stretch of both his hands in a reaction move.

If we get a home draw against Wycombe or Wimbledon in the quarter final, maybe we should start booking those arrangements for Cardiff. Despite all the misery this season, it COULD be our year, couldn't it? Oh, and we are unbeaten in 9 games. In the words of Sky Sports commentator, Martin Tyler, the 2001 Spurs Odyssey goes on! (Wonder where he got that from?).

An additional report from Jim Duggan can be read here.

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