CARLING CUP ROUND THREE
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2008
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (0)
There were more tears for the Toon, although hardly any home fans could be bothered to turn up and support their team, with the crowd 33,000 below capacity being the worst since St. James’ Park was re-developed. That figure was boosted by the vocal presence of many Spurs fans who were rewarded with a composed if rarely exciting performance by Ramos’s men. Whilst still up in the rafters of the Sir John Hall stand, the away fans had been moved to create a “singing section” of home fans apparently. However, there was no evidence of the presence of such a section, as those who had bothered sat for the most part in stony silence.
Spurs went with a game plan to pack the midfield, and operate on the break. Ramos played a five man midfield, with Aaron Lennon on the right and Gareth Bale being his attacking partner on the left. The idea was for them to support the lone striker Pavlyuchenko, but he had little service until he got his debut goal in the second half. Jenas, Zokora and Jamie O’Hara were the central midfield. Jenas’s performance was much improved after Sunday, with some incisive passing, and whilst Zokora operated well in his own half, we know he comes up short on the creative stakes. Jamie O’Hara was rewarded for what for me was a man of the match performance with a well taken gift of a goal from Steven Taylor, which really sealed the win for Spurs, despite Owen’s late consolation.
Man Utd had beaten Middlesbrough 3-1 the night before in front of 53,279 at Old Trafford. The goals were scored by Ronaldo, Giggs and Nani. Their team was Amos; R Da Silva, Vidic, Brown, O'Shea; Nani, Possebon (sub Gibson, 72), Anderson, Giggs (sub Manucho, 84); Wellbeck, Ronaldo (sub Tevez, 61)
CARLING CUP 4TH ROUND
WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER, 2008
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 (3) LIVERPOOL 2 (0)
Spurs marched on in style to the Carling Cup quarter-finals despite fielding a team which featured seven changes to the starting line-up after their preceding game at Manchester City. A lot of fuss was made about the strength of Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool side, but three of their back four play first team football regularly, and Lucas, Babel and Torres were also in the team. The fact is though that the Liverpool side was there for the beating, and Spurs did that convincingly thanks to two goals apiece from Fraizer Campbell and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Three of those goals came in a dazzling spell in the run-up to half-time, and it was Fraizer Campbell who made the first and scored the second and third, who has to be named as man of the match.
United again played their game on the Tuesday, and over 62,000 saw them beat QPR, thanks to a Tevez goal scored from the penalty spot in the 76th minute. United's team was:- Kuszcak; R Da Silva, Neville (sub Vidic, 89), Evans, O'shea; Gibson, Possebon (sub Wellbeck, 72), Anderson; Nani, Tevez, Park
CARLING CUP 5TH ROUND
WEDNESDAY 3RD DECEMBER, 2008
WATFORD 1 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (1)
Spurs overcame the early onslaught from the home side last night to march through to another Carling Cup semi-final. Watford’s new coach Brendan Rodgers deployed the fast return system, meaning that every time the ball went out of play, a replacement appeared instantaneously. As a result the early tempo brought pressure upon a strong Spurs side, and an early goal for the Hornets.
With the condemned wooden main stand empty apart from executive guests and officials, the three sides of the Vicarage Road ground were packed for an exciting night on a cold night where the ground was frost-bitten. The only change to the Spurs defence was the replacement of Ledley King by Michael Dawson, whilst Jermaine Jenas made a welcome return to the midfield, where Huddlestone and Bentley sat on the sidelines. Darren Bent was also held in reserve, in favour of Pavlyuchenko and Campbell, but he was to score the winner with 14 minutes of the game remaining.
Tevez scored 4 of United's 5 goals in an exciting 5-3 win over Blackburn, with Nani scoring the remaining goal. United were at home again. Their team was:- Foster; R Da Silva, Neville, Evans, O'Shea (sub Evra, 66); Nani, Gibson, Possebon (sub Scholes, 66), Anderson; Tevez, Giggs (sub Manucho, 71)
CARLING CUP SEMI-FINAL (1st Leg)
TUESDAY 6TH JANUARY, 2009
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 4 (0) BURNLEY 1 (1)
Spurs looked to have booked their way to Wembley – again! Burnley’s army of nearly 4,000 were in dreamland at half-time. Having conquered Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal on their way to this semi-final, the “Clarets” were deservedly winning at half-time thanks to Chris Eagles’ cross and top-scorer Paterson’s conversion. Burnley might have had a two goal lead too, had Robbie Blake’s glancing header gone inside and not outside Gomes’ post soon after that goal.
Spurs played with insufficient conviction in the first half, and David Bentley, playing on the left, offered little support to Gareth Bale, which led to Eagles’ first half impact. Harry Redknapp worked his magic at the interval, gave the proverbial kick up the backside and replaced Bentley with Jamie O’Hara, who scored one and had a hand in all four goals scored by Spurs.
United actually lost the first leg of their semi-final at Pride Park, with manager to be Nigel Clough watching from the wings. Former Forest man Kris Commons scored the only goal of this game in the 30th minute. United's team:- Kuszcak; R Da Silva, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea; Anderson (sub Carrick, 74), Scholes (sub Ronaldo, 63), Gibson; Nani, Tevez, Wellbeck (sub Rooney, 63)
CARLING CUP SEMI-FINAL (2ND LEG)
WEDNESDAY 21ST JANUARY, 2009
BURNLEY 3 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (0)
(a.e.t. Score after 90 mins 3-0
Spurs win 6-4 on aggregate)
Spurs made it to Wembley, but the glory of this second leg belonged to Championship side Burnley, who made a dramatic comeback from 4-1 down to take the tie into extra time. The “Clarets” were literally two minutes from Wembley, as their away goal at White Hart Lane would have ensured their passage to Wembley, had the score remained at 3-0 on the night. Spurs had dominated extra time though, but left it till the 118th minute before substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko squeezed a shot underneath Brian Jensen for the goal that took Spurs through. Jermain Defoe added a last minute goal to flatter the visitors with a two goal aggregate advantage.
Over 73,000 watched United ensure their path to The Carling Cup Final with a 4-2 win over Derby. Nani, O'Shea, Tevez and Ronaldo provided the goals, and the team was:- Foster; R Da Silva (sub Fletcher, 42), Neville (sub Chester, 67), Evans, O'Shea; Nani, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs (sub Ronaldo, 58); Wellbeck, Tevez
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