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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
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Full Record of Spurs -v- Manchester City
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 5 4 1 0 7 - 2 13
Away 6 4 1 1 10 - 8 13
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Total(Prem) 11 8 2 1 17 -10 26
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 46 21 13 12 84 -59 58
Away(Div 1) 46 7 11 28 39 -90 24
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Total(Div 1) 92 28 24 40 123 -149 82
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Football Lge
Home(Div 2) 2 0 1 1 2 - 3 1
Away(Div 2) 2 0 0 2 0 - 3 0
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Total(Div 2) 4 0 1 3 2 - 6 1
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Total(Prem) 11 8 2 1 17 -10 26
Total(Div 1) 92 28 24 40 123 -149 82
Total(Div 2) 4 0 1 3 2 - 6 1
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Grand Total) 107 36 27 44 142-165 109
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Spurs and Manchester City have clashed at Easter before. The most crucial
clash of all was at Easter 1960. Spurs were in a three-way tussle for the
title with Burnley and Wolves. Burnley were distracted by the European Cup
and Wolves by the FA Cup. Spurs had neither distraction since they had
been beaten by Blackburn Rovers in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. As Spurs
began to live on their nerves and dropped silly points, Manchester City
came to White Hart Lane on Easter Saturday, 1960. In goal for the Sky
Blues that day was the legendary Bert Trautmann, who had survived a broken
neck at the feet of Birmingham's Peter Murphy, who had played for Spurs in
Rowe's Championship side, in the 1956 Cup Final.
In the 44th minute of Spurs v Manchester City, Spurs were awarded a
penalty after Sear had blatantly handled the ball. Cliff Jones put the
ball on the spot, took a short walk back, and then a low shot for the
inside of the post. But Trautmann somehow managed to read Cliff's
intentions and was quick to block the ball. Trautmann could not hold the
ball and Jones whipped it in to his goal. But the goal did not stand as
the referee blew for half-time just as Jones was whipping the ball into
the net. In the second half, Manchester City scored the only goal of the
game and Spurs were left to curse their luck.
Manchester City were once the better known of the two Manchester teams.
They attracted the best players, including Matt Busby, who was later to
transform the poor relations into the biggest club in the UK, if not
Europe. It was Manchester United's good fortune that Old Trafford was
virtually demolished by German bombing (Ed: A bit of an oxymoron here, but I know what Brian means!), thus enabling them to rebuild the
stadium from scratch, whilst their neighbours had to make do and mend.
It has not helped Manchester City's cause that they have frequently fallen
victim to relegation as often as Manchester United did so between the
wars. Not so long ago, Manchester City were playing teams they had never
envisaged meeting when they played one season of Second Division football
during 1998-99.
Memories will be fresh in the mind of our win at Manchester City earlier
in the season. We were fortunate to meet them on a bad day as we have not
always been at our best when travelling to play teams in the lower half of
the League, as they were then. Perry, Davies and Poyet scored the goals
that gave us an unexpected Christmas present!
Over the years, I cannot remember many transfer deals between the two
clubs. I can remember Chris Jones playing for Manchester City after
leaving Tottenham. However.I am reminded by my sources that Clive Allen,
Neil McNab, Bobby Mimms and Paul Stewart also played for them. There are
other pre-WW2 players also. I should have remembered McNab, because he
would have reached the heights with Tottenham had he not been so impatient
(like Souness).
It is difficult to say how Tottenham will play. On the one hand, it looks
as if Berkovic will be missing from the Manchester City side. It also
looks as if Dean Richards will be returning to the Tottenham side. I think
Tottenham will probably drop two more points against their visitors but I
would like to be proved wrong. I can only see a draw because I can't see
Keegan stomaching another performance from his side like they produced
last weekend. Much will depend on Tottenham's attitude and Hoddle's
tactics (if such a word exists in his lexicon!). (Ed: Oh, I think they exist, Brian. It's just that the players don't always understand them!)
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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