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This preview was written by Brian Judson
Prem Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 6 1 1 4 7-11 4
Away 6 3 0 3 9-9 9
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Total (Prem) 12 4 1 7 16-20 13
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 24 14 6 4 50-30 39
Away (Div 1) 24 8 10 6 33-30 29
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Total (Div 1) 48 22 16 10 83-60 68
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 8 6 2 0 18-5 14
Away (Div 2) 8 2 1 5 9-13 5
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Total (Div 2) 16 8 3 5 27-18 19
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Total (Prem) 12 4 1 7 16-20 13
Total (Div 1) 48 22 16 10 83-60 68
Total (Div 2) 16 8 3 5 27-18 19
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Grand Total 76 34 20 22 126-98 100
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This is not a fixture that sets the heart racing in the way that (say) a
visit to Old Trafford or Anfield might. We usually travel to Highfield
Road with Coventry struggling near the bottom and confident that by
5.00pm we will be heading for the M1 with three points in our locker.
But all too often such optimism is wildly wide of the mark and at least
one Spurs player has fallen foul of the referee. For instance, Gazza was
dismissed in a New Year's battle.
After last season's heady finish midway in the table, Coventry are once
again back in familiar territory at the bottom of the table. Moreover,
the biggest threat they used to have in the shape of Dion Dublin has
left for Villa Park and has yet to be replaced. Yet there is something I
can't quite put my finger on that suggests Coventry might be in a false
position. They do play some attractive football at times but seem unable
to turn chances into goals. Perhaps they need to take the responsibility
of scoring goals from Huckerby, who is probably too brave for his own
good sometimes. Whelan really ought to accept more responsibility up
front instead of mixing it with the opposition. And now that Steve
Froggat has arrived from Wolves, there should be even more chances to
capitalise on.
In discussing Coventry, thoughts will always turn to that horrible day
for Spurs supporters when the Midlanders won the Cup. Since then,
Coventry have rarely threatened to win honours. It has been a minor
mystery to me that so many good players have played for Coventry over
the years and yet Coventry seem to have to rely on last day victories to
stay in the top flight. None more so than a few seasons ago when they
came to Tottenham, needing a win to stay up and comprehensively thrashed
us.
This year, however, should be different. In George Graham, we have a
manager who will not permit anyone to become complacent about anything,
particularly playing teams like Coventry. Graham may not know every
little piece of Tottenham's long history but he will surely be aware of
Tottenham's predilection for dropping points in matches they should win.
Even more than in matches against the elite at the top of the table,
this is a match that demands 100 per cent concentration.
Much will depend on the composition of the team following last week's
defeat at Chelsea. Certainly we need to bounce back from that result. I
think we can do so (hope springs eternal!) and would expect us to win
2-0 *IF* (and it is a very big IF!) everyone can maintain 100 per cent
concentration *and* discipline for the whole of the 90 minutes. We do
not want a repetition of Armstrong's stupid indiscretion of throwing the
ball away when a free kick is awarded against us.
Cheers, Brian
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