This match preview was written by Brian Juson

Our only previous FA Cup ties against Wimbledon have been :

1986-87 FAC6  A  2-0  Waddle, Hoddle
1992-93 FAC5  H  3-2  Barmby, Anderton, Sheringham

I thought that as we played Wimbledon last week and as we have no FA Cup history against Wimbledon, other than the above ties, I would take a more general approach and discuss some 4th Round ties we've had in the past since the last war.

Our first tie at this stage came in 1947-48 when both West Bromwich Albion and ourselves were in the old Second Division. At that time, the South Staffordshire club were in the last season of a managerial reign that stretched all the way back to 1902, some 40 odd years or so. A man called Fred Everiss was their manager at that time. 71,853 spectators crammed into White Hart Lane to see us win 3-1 with Len Duquemin scoring twice and Freddie Cox once. Cox was soon to depart to Arsenal and later managed Bournemouth when they beat us 3-1 at Dean Court in the 5th Round in season 1956-57.

Two seasons later, as Spurs raced away with the Second Division championship, we were drawn at home to Sunderland, then giants in the old First Division. Anyone with a video of the club history has seen highlights of that match, which we won 5-1. 66,245 spectators saw 'Sonny' Walters score twice, Les Bennett twice and Les Medley once.

A further two seasons later, in 1951-52, Spurs crashed at home to Newcastle United, the eventual winners that season, 3-0. We were watched by 69,009 spectators.

The following season we were drawn against Preston North End at Deepdale. Preston were then a very attractive team and Tom Finney was one of their stars. Finney was a one club man who never wanted to play for anyone else. His career started in the dark days of the war and ended in the late 1950s. Once Finney retired, Preston crashed down the League ladder. We drew 2-2 at Deepdale. 39,800 spectators saw Charlie Withers score twice. In the replay four days later, 52,559 crammed into the ground one wintery Wednesday afternoon (floodlights not being permissible in those days). Len Duquemin scored the only goal of the game.

A year later, we won at Maine Road. Manchester City was a very good team in those days. 50,576 spectators saw us beat them thanks to Les Bennett scoring the only goal of the game.

In 1954-55, the old guard began to say farewell. We beat Port Vale, 4-2, at Tottenham, Watched by 50,414 spectators, Johnny Brooks scored twice, Johnny Gavin and Len Duquemin scored one a-piece and we were beaten in the next round by York City. Brooks spent five years at Tottenham and won England caps but he was a very inconsistent player and was later swapped for Chelsea reserve Les Allen.

A year later, we beat Middlesbrough, 3-1. The old guard had gone. The scorers were David Dunmore, Maurice Norman and George Robb, then still an amateur. The game was watched by 41,895 spectators. Robb was a school teacher at Finchley who preferred to play as an amateur and did not become a professional until quite late a stage. It was Robb who bridged the game between the departure of Les Medley and the arrival of Cliff Jones.

Possibly one of the most pleasing results was our victory over Chelsea the following season. We won 4-0, watched by 66,398 spectators. Tommy Harmer, Bobby Smith, Alf Stokes and Terry Medwin were our scorers. It made that defeat at Bournemouth in the next round seem all the more shattering. Medwin was a very unlucky player because he had to compete for his place with both Cliff Jones and Terry Dyson. Medwin was a very good player but lacked the devil that makes a brilliant player. His career ended when he sustained a broken leg in South Africa when Spurs toured there in 1963.

A year later I saw Spurs crash at home to Sheffield United three weeks after thrashing Leicester City in the previous round. Our 3-0 defeat was very disappointing. Rarely have Spurs capitulated so completely in front of 51,136 spectators.

Newport County were our visitors the following year. We thrashed them 4-1, watched by 50,561 spectators. Bobby Smith and David Dunmore scored two goals apiece to knock the Welshmen off the road to Wembley.

Spurs were well on the way to winning the championship (or so we thought) when they travelled to Fourth Division Crewe Alexandra and had a mighty shock in February 1960. We were lucky to draw 2-2 thanks to goals by Les Allen and Cliff Jones. But four days later we thrashed them 13-2, a club record. Les Allen scored 5, Bobby Smith 4, Cliff Jones 3 (1 a penalty) and Tommy Harmer scored once. Only 20,000 saw us draw at Crewe but 64,365 saw us win the replay.

A year later, on our way to the Double, we again played Crewe, this time at Tottenham. We won 5-1, watched by 53,281 spectators. Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones, Bobby Smith, Les Allen and Terry Dyson scored the goals.

On our way to Wembley for a second successive triumph, we travelled to Plymouth in the 4th Round. We won 5-1, watched by 40,040 spectators. Jimmy Greaves scored twice, Terry Medwin, John White and Cliff Jones adding one each.

It was January 1965 before we next appeared in the Fourth Round. Sir Winston Churchill had died the previous weekend and his state funeral was held on the morning of the match. A one minute silence preceded the game which was not broken by any of the 43,992 spectators. We thrashed Ipswich Town, 5-0. Jimmy Greaves scored three, of which one was a penalty whilst Alan Gilzean contributed the other two.

I will conclude this preview by commenting on the fourth round ties of 1966 and 1967.

The 1966 tie was possibly the most thrilling (for end to end play) that I've ever seen. There have been other matches equally dramatic but the tie against Burnley, at Tottenham, was really end to end stuff. Burnley were 2-0 ahead after only five minutes. Tottenham came back to level 2-2. Burnley went ahead again only to be pegged back by Tottenham and Gilzean grabbed the winner with four minutes to go. Alan Gilzean scored a hat-trick and Frank Saul scored the vital third goal equaliser. 50,611 spectators saw that dramatic match. It made our fifth round defeat at Preston very inexplicable, particularly when recalling Greaves had put us ahead early on at Deepdale.

The 1967 tie was the perfect exposition of Tottenham for taking chances. They looked quite ordinary against Portsmouth at Tottenham. Then Gilzean struck twice in a minute in the 51st and 52nd minutes and Tottenham were back on the rails again. Gilzean nodded many exquisite goals but none as deadlier as those two bullets. James P got the other goal as 57,910 spectators aired that old anthem "GLORY! GLORY! HALLELUJAH! AND THE SPURS GO MARCHING ON!"

Coming back to this weekend's match, it will be another very tight game. I understand our referee will be Dermot Gallagher, from Banbury, so I'm hoping Ginola will not be tempted to repeat last weekend's performance. If we play as well as we are capable of doing so, I think we ought to win but it may go to a replay. It is vital we score first, though.

Enjoy the game and, please, no barracking if Vega plays. We cannot afford a loss of confidence at a vital moment.

Cheers, Brian

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