"It was Twenty Years ago today!"
article published February, 2018, but first written in 1998 by the late Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Blackburn Rovers

Premier       Pl   W   D   L  For-Ag  Pts

Home           6   2   1   3    8-9    7
Away           5   2   0   3    5-5    6
=========================================
Total (Prem)  11   4   1   6   13-14   13
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  24  16   4   4   63-30   36
Away (Div 1)  24   5   5  14   23-50   15
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Total (Div 1) 48  21   9  18   86-80   51
=========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   6   5   0   1   22-8    10
Away (Div 2)   6   2   2   2    9-7     6
=========================================
Total (Div 2) 12   7   2   3   31-15   16
=========================================
Total (Prem)  11   4   1   6   13-14   13
Total (Div 1) 48  21   9  18   86-80   51
Total (Div 2) 12   7   2   3   31-15   16
=========================================
Grand Total)  71  32  12  27  130-109  80
=========================================

Out of the Cup, the media hovering over Tottenham like vultures anticipating a feast from a decomposing carcass, the club's star striker out with a broken jaw for a minimum of a month, and no sign of an uplift in the club's fortunes : do we really need to go and play Blackburn Rovers this weekend? If all the results conspire against us, we could find ourselves rock bottom of the Premiership and, possibly, daylight between us and the clubs immediately above us.

Moreover, Blackburn's Chris Sutton will be wanting to prove a point or two to England Coach Glenn Hoddle. In a fit of petulance which Hoddle will not quickly forgive, Sutton walked out on England when he was picked for the England 'B' squad and not the 'A' squad. His manager, Roy Hodgson, and Glenn Hoddle both spoke to him at some length to try to persuade him to withdraw his threat to walk out. But Sutton was adamant, no doubt because Liverpool's Michael Owen has come from nowhere straight into the England 'A' team.

With Klinsmann unavailable, the question will be asked : who will partner Les Ferdinand up front? Obviously, one hopes that Chris Armstrong will figure in the plans somewhere. But he is very far from being match fit after some 14 months out of the first team. It is true that Armstrong played in a number of games earlier this season but it also has to be said that Armstrong was clearly bothered by his ankle and rarely completed a full ninety minutes.

The defence will again largely pick itself. Until Dean Austin and Justin Edinburgh are fit again, I can't see anyone replacing Carr or Wilson, no matter how much Carr needs a rest and Wilson hopelessly out of sorts. I hope to see Howells in midfield much as I dislike his ponderous, slow style of play. He is still a much better player than that other misfit, Colin Calderwood.

Vega has come in for a great deal of criticism. It is true to say he has made a number of mistakes but not, I venture to add, half as many as those made by Clive Wilson. I think Vega lacks confidence in those around him but, funnily enough, I think he has more confidence in Baardsen than in Walker. I would not automatically restore Walker to the goalkeeping role once he is fit again because Baardsen has been playing well in Walker's absence.

I'd like to see Garry Brady preferred to Fox. I don't think Fox is being played in the right position. I don't remember Fox being played wide when he was at Norwich as I seem to recall him being played from just behind Fleck, who was the main striker in Norwich's time at the top at the start of the '90s.

How will Spurs cope with Blackburn? Much will depend on how Blackburn approach the game. No doubt Roy Hodgson will emphasise that Spurs could produce a shock if Blackburn are complacent and think they only need to turn up to win. I suspect Hodgson will probably point to Klinsmann's injury and say that Spurs will be fired up to win the match for Klinsmann. If Spurs can survive the first half without conceding a goal, they will have a chance of picking up a point. I can't see Spurs pulling off a shock win as Blackburn will be keen to reduce the gap that Manchester United have opened up.

I hope for a 1-1 draw but won't be surprised if we end up with another 4-0 thrashing. But I will turn cartwheels in my living room if Spurs *do* pull off a shock victory at Ewood Park.

Cheers, Brian

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