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Spurs record in Europe:-

European Cup
P   W   D   L   F - A
8   4   1   3  21 - 13

(Semi-Finalists 1962)

European Cup Winners Cup

P   W   D   L   F - A
33  20  5   8  65 - 34

(Winners 1963)

UEFA Cup
P   W   D   L   F - A
84 51  19  15  181-70 

(Winners 1972, 1984
 Finalists 1974)

Total
P    W   D   L   F - A
126 75  25  26  267-117

UEFA CUP Round Two Final Group D Table:-
		     P  W  D  L  F-A  PTS
1. Udinese           4  3  0  1  6-4   9
2. Spurs             4  2  1  1  7-4   7
3. NEC               4  2  0  2  6-5   6
4. Spartak  Moscow   4  1  1  2  5-6   4
5. Dinamo Zagreb     4  1  0  3  4-9   3

Shakhtar's record in Europe this season:-


(Qualifying round)
Shakhtar    2-0   Dinamo Zagreb
D. Zagreb   1-3   Shakhtar

Group C
FC Basel    1-2   Shakhtar
Shakhtar    1-2   Barcelona
Shakhtar    0-1   Sporting
Sporting    1-0   Shakhtar
Shakhtar    5-0   Basel
Barcelona   2-3   Shakhtar

UEFA Cup Round of 32 (1st Leg)
Shakhtar    2-0   Spurs

I should be getting excited about the onset of a home European tie, but I am not. It is no surprise bearing in mind the low level of importance being attached to the tournament by manager Harry Redknapp. In fairness, Redknapp is not alone, as Martin O'Neill is "resting" 9 players for Villa's away tie in Moscow tonight.

The prospects of a third all-English UEFA Cup tie in the next round are dim indeed, but for the record, Spurs were involved on both other occasions. We beat Wolves in the 1972 Final, and lost to Liverpool in the semi-finals the following year.

A trip to Moscow in the next round would be a special opportunity, and hard for this supporter to resist, but with Spurs committed to again fielding a weak side, their chances of climbing the mountain of a two goal deficit are slim indeed.

At least those who do represent Spurs have pride to maintain. Both for themselves and for the club, who down the years have still only lost three times in home European ties. Those were in 1985 against Real Madrid, and last season against Getafe on the night of shame for the Spurs board who had Martin Jol's sacking up their sleeve, whilst the honourable Dutchman saw out his Spurs managerial career in front of a crowd who seemed to know his destiny before the victim himself. There was also the defeat in the home leg against PSV, when a certain goalkeeper by the name of Gomes was the hero!

Jamie O'Hara is hoping to make a come-back after his hip injury which has kept him out of the limelight since the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Burnley. It is largely thanks to Jamie that Spurs are in Sunday's Cup Final, and I really do hope he can be involved in some way, and not have to suffer the heartache he had last year when he was left out of the squad completely.

O'Hara is a player with the sort of heart and desire that we want to see from all our team. There is a new player though who has the same degree of desire and more skilful application in Wilson Palacios, who was left out last Thursday, but will hopefully play tonight, as he is cup-tied for Sunday. Palacios could well be the best Spurs player on show, with the team quite possibly including novices such as Dean Parrett and John Bostock. Perhaps I should be excited at the prospect of a home debut for Parrett, who does have the heart of a lion, and has the skill to match his physical strength and desire. Parrett gave an excellent account of himself last week, and I hope he gets the chance to play in front of a semi-packed White Hart Lane tonight, before another big night next Thursday for him and his Youth Cup team-mates.

Those who do bother to come to The Lane (tickets are available on the turnstiles tonight!) will not be disappointed by the peformances of the Spurs youngsters. Spurs have no doubt over-priced this game, but I do wonder what chance we have of filling the proposed 60,000 seat stadium if it ever comes to fruition.

Shakhtar will be fresh, as they haven't played since last Thursday and resume their League programme on Monday night. Their team is likey to be much the same as the first leg, when they finally over-ran us and got that two goal lead. I can't see Spurs reducing that deficit, but hope at least we can maintain our decent home European record with an honourable draw.

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