"It was Twenty Years ago today!"
article published 19.09.2017, but first written in 1997, by the webmaster

CARLING PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER, 1997
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0(0) BLACKBURN ROVERS 0(0)

Attendance:- 26,573

Referee:- G P Barber (Pyrford).

Teams:-
Tottenham:- Walker; Carr, Campbell, Mabbutt (Capt), Edinburgh; Fox, Howells, Clemence, Ginola; Mahorn (sub Vega, 82), Dominguez

Subs not used:- Baardsen; Calderwood; Nielsen, Sinton.

Blackburn:- Flowers; Valery, Hendry, Henchoz, Kenna; Bohinen, Sherwood, Flitcroft, Wilcox (sub McKinlay, 84); Dahlin (sub Croft, 80), Sutton.

Subs not used:- Fettis; T. Pedersen, P. Pedersen.

Booked:- Flitcroft, Valery, Sherwood.

Sent off: Valery 79.

These were my comments about the game:-

We lined up like this:- Walker; Carr, Campbell, Mabbutt, Edinburgh;Fox, Howells, Clemence, Ginola; Mahorn, Dominguez

Vega came on for Mahorn with about 10 minutes to go; the intention presumably to add a bit of air power up front.

Fox and Ginola would occasionally switch flanks. Dominguez would also supplement them at times.

I was pleased that the crowd obviously took the same view as me, and got behind the team today. We got a performance that was far improved than those of the last week. The players clearly were most appreciative of the support at the end of the game, especially Ginola who I thought had his best game for us. He and Dominguez put so many crosses in, that if Les, Or Chris had been about I'm sure we would have scored three. I thought Blackburn were a bit disappointing after the start they've had, but perhaps we didn't allow them to play too well. It has to be said that they did show some skilful touches, and good technical football, getting more persistent in the second half, as perhaps we tired out a little.

What pleased me most was that we challenged everywhere for the ball, which for me is the key to competing. So often we have been guilty of just falling back into our defensive dome formation, as if we like being under siege. Walker even distributed the ball well, most of the time. Clemence made a few mistakes, but he and David Howells played a big part in our domination of the first half. You may have read about Howells chances, but he also laid off some great balls for Mahorn, Fox, and Dominguez, which lead to some of our most threatening attacks.

It wasn't clear from the South stand ( we do miss the Jumbotron ) but one shot from Howells was cleared on the line,and agonisingly went across goal.

I thought Fox was the most disappointing of our players; so often receiving and controlling the ball in good positions, but then doing his usual trick of dawdling before delivering the ball. I did notice that he seems to have learnt a trick from Dominguez. Did anyone else notice his back-heel down the line, as demonstrated by the little man against Derby?

On this performance, I take back what I said about Ginola going before Christmas. He played as if he wanted to today, even tackling back and fighting for the ball ( Yes, it's true ! ).

Blackburn fans were surprisingly quiet.

We deserved to win.

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