|
Here is Declan Mulcahy's "Last Five"
THE LAST FIVE SEASONS:
MIDDLESBROUGH (HOME)
P W D L F A
4 1 1 2 3 6
Played in all four games, Tottenham: Campbell, Middlesbrough: Vickers, Mustoe
There have only been four games as Middlesbrough were in Division One during
the 1997-98 season. Spurs have not won this game for five seasons.
Following are the details of the last five games.
Saturday 23 December 2000
Tottenham Hotspur (0) 0
Middlesbrough (0) 0
Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2):
N Sullivan; C Perry, S Campbell (capt), A Thelwell; S Carr, D Anderton, T
Sherwood ( O Leonhardsen 85), L King, S Clemence; S Rebrov, L Ferdinand (C
Armstrong 46)
Subs not used: I Walker, G Doherty, W Korsten
Booked: T Sherwood, C Perry
Middlesbrough(5-3-1-1):
M Schwarzer; R Mustoe, U Ehiogu, S Vickers, C Cooper, K O'Neill (D Gordon,
90); C Karembeu, P Ince (capt), P Okon; N Whelan (C Fleming, 87); A Boksic
(B Deane, 75)
Subs not used: M Crossley; G Festa
Booked: P Okon, K O'Neill, B Deane
Attendance: 35,638
Referee: R Styles (Waterlooville)
Managers: George Graham (Tottenham), Bryan Robson (Middlesbrough)
Middlesbrough, who had recently appointed Terry Venables to assist Bryan
Robson came looking for a draw. They achieved it in a somewhat
undistinguished 0-0 game which saw one way traffic towards the
Middlesbrough goal. The Middlesbrough team stayed behind the ball for most
of the game frustrating Spurs efforts and used time wasting tactics where
they could.
Spurs had most of the opportunities which arose. Carr hit a shot across the
goalmouth which went just wide. A four man move saw Clemence cross but
Carr's header was cleared. After good work by Anderton and Ferdinand,
Rebrov crossed and Sherwood's diving header was deflected by Schwarzer the
Middlesbrough goalkeeper for a corner. Then he had to tip a Clemence cross
over the bar after misjudging it. Ferdinand set up King who unleashed a
strong shot but again Schwarzer saved.
Armstrong replaced the injured Ferdinand in the second half. He did put the
ball in the net but it was disallowed because he was offside. Then Rebrov
had a fine shot which was deflected onto the bar.
Boksic had an opportunity for Middlesbrough but wasted it. Sherwood sent a
long ball to Armstrong who rounded Schwarzer but the angle was too acute
for him to score. Carr had a shot with fifteen minutes left but the keeper
saved. Armstrong put the ball in the net again but it was also disallowed
for offside.
Sherwood and Armstrong both came close in a goalmouth melee. Perry and
Anderton both tried long range shots to no effect. Shortly before the end
the best opportunity of the match fell to Clemence after King had chipped
the Middlesbrough defence. However he made a mess of it and this just about
summed up Spurs' day.
Monday 3 April 2000
Tottenham Hotspur (1) 2
Armstrong 31, Ginola 83.
Middlesbrough (1) 3
Carr 40 og, Ricard 64, 78.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2):
I Walker; S Carr, C Perry, S Campbell (capt), M Taricco; D Ginola, S
Freund, D Anderton, W Korsten (S Clemence 68min); C Armstrong, S Iversen.
Substitutes not used: E Baardsen, J Scales, L Young, M Etherington.
Booked: D Ginola, C Perry, S Carr.
Middlesbrough (4-3-3):
M Schwarzer; C Ziege, S Vickers, C Cooper, C Fleming; M Summerbell, P Ince
(capt), R Mustoe; B Deane, H Ricard, A Campbell.
Substitutes not used: M Beresford, N Maddison, Juninho, R Stockdale, J Gavin.
Booked: C Fleming, H Ricard.
Attendance: 31,796
Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).
Managers: George Graham (Tottenham), Bryan Robson (Middlesbrough)
Spurs lost at home to Middlesbrough for the second consecutive season and
once again Hamilton Ricard was the man responsible. Although Middlesbrough
had some poor results recently they still played with three forwards. Spurs
showed a lack of organization at the back which was responsible for all
three Middlesbrough goals.
Anderton had an early shot after being set up by Ginola but the goalkeeper
saved. The Ricard had two opportunities. Walker saved the first a long shot
and the second was off target. Then Ricard lobbed the ball into the area
but Summerbell was unable to make contact.
After sixteen minutes Iversen set up Korsten but the latter shot wide.
Shortly after the half hour mark Armstrong put Spurs ahead. A long ball to
Armstrong was then sent to Anderton. He crossed for Iversen to head down
for Armstrong who had used his pace to get into position. Armstrong made no
mistake and put the ball in the back of the net.
Five minutes before half time Spurs allowed Middlesbrough back into the
game. Carr had the ball but was pressured by Ricard. He did not notice that
Walker had come off his line and as a result turned the ball into his own
net. The goal could have been overturned for a Ricard foul on Perry.
Spurs could have regained the lead just before half time when Anderton hit
a curving shot from thirty yards which beat the goalkeeper but hit the post
and went wide. By this time it was raining heavily
After the interval Ince hit a long range shot which Walker could not hold
but did not go in. Then Ginola beat Ziege before letting fly with a shot
from which Schwarzer made a diving save.
He then made another good save from Armstrong.
Middlesbrough took the lead after 64 minutes when Walker touched a Ziege
corner but sent it straight to Ricard. He fired the ball into the net.
Walker then saved from Ince. An Anderton shot went narrowly wide following
a Middlesbrough mistake. Then Ginola hit the post following a Freund cross.
After 78 minutes Spurs went 3-1 down. Ziege sent a long free kick into the
Spurs penalty area. Ricard was allowed a free header and made no mistake in
putting it into the net. Five minutes later Ginola embarked on a fine solo
run which culminated with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net to
make the score 3-2.
Spurs tried hard for the remaining seven minutes but could not snatch an
equaliser. Their best effort was a long range shot from Carr from just
outside the area. The game ended in frustration for Spurs.
Sunday 13 September 1998
Tottenham Hotspur (0) 0
Middlesbrough (2) 3
Ricard 25, 32, Kinder 87.
Tottenham Hotspur (4-5-1):
E Baardsen; S Carr, C Calderwood, S Campbell (capt), P Tramezzani; R Fox
(Sinton 56), N Berti, R Clemence (C Armstrong 46), A Nielsen (M Saib 51), D
Ginola; L Ferdinand.
Subs not used: H Segers, R Vega.
Booked: N Berti, D Ginola.
Middlesbrough (5-3-2):
M Schwarzer; G Festa, C Cooper, S Vickers, G Pallister, D Gordon; R Mustoe,
P Gascoigne (V Kinder 85), A Townsend, H Ricard (M Branca 67), M Beck (A
Campbell 90), .
Subs not used: M Beresford, R Stockdale.
Attendance: 30,437
Referee: S W Dunn (Avon)
Managers: David Pleat (Tottenham), Bryan Robson (Middlesbrough)
This was Spurs fifth league game of the season. It took place during the
period after Christian Gross had been let go but before George Graham had
been appointed. Spurs lost their second home game out of three conceding
three goals at home for the second time.
Paul Gascoigne was well received on his return to WHL. With Ian Walker ill
goalkeeping coach Hans Segers was on the bench for Spurs on a windy day.
Ferdinand was Spurs lone striker. Middlesbrough started with five at the
back.
Spurs made a promising start. Clemence won the ball from Middlesbrough in
the first minute. He advanced to the edge of the penalty area but instead
of having a go passed outside where the move broke down. Shortly afterwards
Ginola set up Tramezzani who crossed for Fox but the latter was off target.
After fourteen minutes Ricard crossed from the corner, Beck dummied and
Mustoe hit a shot from close range which Baardsen did well to stop it going
into the net.
After 25 minutes Ricard played a one-two with Beck which lured Calderwood
out of position and gave Ricard the space to place the ball to Baardsen's
right and give Middlesbrough the lead. Seven minutes later he scored
Middlesbrough's and his own second goal. Again he combined with Beck, went
past Calderwood and put the ball to Baardsen's left. Spurs won a free kick
close to the box, after 37 minutes but Ginola shot straight at Schwarzer.
Shortly before half time Pallister set up Ricard but he shot well wide on
this occasion.
Shortly after half time Fox set up Nielsen but his shot was saved by
Schwarzer. Beck had two opportunities for Middlesbrough, one a thirty yard
shot which Baardsen deflected for a corner. Spurs had a couple of
half-hearted penalty appeals neither of which was taken seriously. Berti
came close to pushing a Sinton corner into the net. From a Saib cross
Armstrong headed against a post.
Unfortunately Middlesbrough had the final say. Kinder hit a shot towards
the right hand corner of the Spurs goal. While Baardsen reached it he
allowed the ball to squirm out of his hands thus increasing the score to a
pretty sad 3-0 for Middlesbrough.
Thursday, April 24 1997
Tottenham Hotspur (0) 1
Sinton 71
Middlesbrough (0) 0
Tottenham Hotspur (4-1-3-2) :
I Walker; D Austin, R Vega, S Campbell, J Edinburgh; C Calderwood; J
Dozzell, D Howells, A Nielsen; A Sinton, E Sheringham (capt).
Substitutes not used : E Baardsen, P McVeigh, N Fenn, D Hill, G Brady.
Booked : J Dozzell.
Middlesbrough (4-3-3):
B Roberts; C Blackmore, N Pearson, S Vickers, V Kinder; P Stamp (C
Freestone 81), Emerson, R Mustoe; F Ravanelli (C Hignett 81), M Beck,
Juninho.
Substitutes not used : Whyte, P Whelan, M Schwarzer.
Booked : R Mustoe, C Hignett.
Attendance : 29,947.
Referee : Mr P Durkin (Dorset).
Managers: Gerry Francis (Tottenham), Bryan Robson (Middlesbrough)
Defeat in their fifth last game did not mathematically condemn
Middlesbrough to relegation but left them very likely candidates to go down
with three of the remaining four games away from home. The game took place
just two days after Middlesbrough beat Chesterfield in an FA Cup semi final
replay. Middlesbrough had lost their previous eleven league games in
London.
The first half saw some entertaining football at both ends. Spurs had a
couple of early chances. A long pass was touched on by Sheringham. Roberts
the Middlesbrough goalkeeper misjudged the ball and it bounced off his
knees. Sinton's shot was blocked. It then fell to Nielsen whose shot hit
Pearson. Soon afterwards Roberts misjudged a Sinton corner which allowed
Campbell a free header which bounced off the bar. Vega followed up but
Roberts made a good save.
Middlesbrough had two opportunities before half time both of which brought
outstanding saves from Walker. Firstly Blackmore hit a volley which
appeared to be destined for the net before Waler made a spectacular catch.
Then from a Middlesbrough free kick Juninho hit a curling shot that Walker
managed to divert at the last minute.
Middlesbrough started well in the second half but Campbell was steady at
the back for Spurs. Emerson hit a powerful shot from which Walker made
another outstanding save.
The only goal of the game came after 71 minutes against the run of play.
Edinburgh sent in a deep cross which was nodded down by Sheringham. Sinton
lost his balance and deflected in home. In doing so he completely wrong
footed Roberts the Middlesbrough goalkeeper.
During the final minutes Middlesbrough threw ten men forward in an attempt
to conjure up an equaliser but it was to no avail. Spurs took their
opportunity and thanks to Ian Walker kept a clean sheet at the other end.
Top of page | Back to Fixtures and Results
| 
