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· Hearts 0 Spurs 5 - 18.08.11
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Spurs record in Europe:-
U.E.F.A Champions League
P W D L F - A
12 5 3 4 25 -19
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/Europa League
P W D L F - A
86 52 20 15 187-71
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
139 81 29 29 296-134
Completing the formalities?
Spurs go into their 140th match in European football and their 87th UEFA Cup/Europa League match needing four goals to break the 300 goal mark in all European competition. With last week's team, that might be achievable, but Harry Redknapp has indicated that young players such as Harry Kane, Tom Carroll and Andros Townsend will take part. Townsend has already had his White Hart Lane initiation, playing well, and scoring a good goal in last season's 3-0 FA Cup win over Charlton. Harry Kane is an 18 year old young England International, who took part in 18 league games for Leyton Orient last season, scoring 5 league goals. Carroll also played on loan at Orient, who perhaps are missing this Spurs duo, as they are currently struggling in League One!
Harry Kane was Captain of the Academy under-18 side at a tender age, and is a versatile attacking midfielder or striker. His ideal position seems to be "in the hole", but he has consistently scored at any level he has played. Those who keep up with the progress of Spurs at all levels are looking forward to seeing Harry play. Tom Carroll is a skilled passing midfielder, who has also seen time for young England teams, and will be good to watch.
The five-goal lead is a great cushion of course, but Hearts have not travelled down to be push-overs, and will seek to play in the way they started last week's second half, when they did have Spurs on the back foot for the first five or ten minutes. There is plenty of pride to play for, not just for Hearts, but for Scottish football.
Spurs have scored five or more goals away in Europe on four previous occasions. This does not take into account our magnificant 5-1 Cup Winners Cup victory in 1963 in Rotterdam against Athletico Madrid! The first pure away win with five or more goals was in Iceland against Keflavik in September, 1971, when we brought home a 6-1 win, with goals from Mullery (2), Coates and Gilzean (3). This was the match in which Graeme Souness made his one and only appearance in Spurs colours, when he came on as substitute. We had an even greater bean-feast at home winning 9-1 for a 15-1 aggregate. Spurs' band of Icelandic supporters have not seen us on their soil in competition since then.
One year later in September 1972, we travelled to Oslo and beat Lyn Oslo 6-3. The scorers this time were Peters, Pratt, Gilzean (2) and Chivers (2). The home leg was another formality with a 6-0 win. In that year were were playing as UEFA Cup holders, of course. Another calendar year passed and in September 1973, we beat Grasshopper Club Zurich 5-1 on their patch, with goals from Chivers (2), Evans, and Gilzean. This was full back Ray Evans' first goal for the club. He scored three more in total, before moving to Millwall in January 1975.
It was another ten years before we passed the five goal away barrier in Europe, and in September 1983, we travelled to Ireland and played against Drogheda United. We won 6-0 with goals from Mark Falco (2), Garth Crooks, Tony Galvin, and Gary Mabbutt. At home we won 8-0 to match the 14 goal winning advantage over Keflavik 12 years previously. That season would be another great one for us, as would go on to win another European trophy, with Graham Roberts to the fore on a magicala night at White Hart Lane against Anderlecht.
It won't be quite such a glorious night at White Hart Lane tonight for our first home game of the season, and Hearts will aim to finish the night at least on even terms or better. Hearts drew their SPL game at Kilmarnock on Sunday 0-0. Former Spurs Junior John Sutton was a late substitute and it remains to be seen whether he will get the chance to play in front of a decent crowd at White Hart Lane. Hearts manager Paulo Sergio is planning eight alterations to his team for this game, and apparently has his eyes on Sunday's Edinburgh derby against Hibernian. He also will be giving youngsters a chance.
Spurs will have more than enough in the armoury to complete a convincing win in the tie, but tonight's result may be close. I'll go for a three goal margin, and look forward to tomorrow's Group stage draw!
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