Our only previous FA Cup ties have been :

1986-87 FAC5    A       2-0     Hoddle, Waddle
1992-93 FAC5    H       3-2     Barmby, Anderton, Sheringham
1998-99 FAC4    A       1-1     Ginola

I thought that I would spend some time of this preview of tomorrow night's replay discussing some cup ties where we have been involved in Cup replays at this stage.

Undoubtedly the most traumatic replay was the one we had on January 28th 1970 against Crystal Palace. We had been drawn against Bradford City in the previous round and had featured in Match of The Day. We had been extremely lucky to draw 2-2 at Valley Parade but had won the replay 5-0. We had been drawn at home to Crystal Palace, whom we had never beaten in the FA Cup. The match at Tottenham was played on a mud heap and was quite simply a dreadful game. As far as I can recall neither side had a useful shot on target.

I travelled to the replay at Selhurst Park. I wish I hadn't. It was another awful game. Palace won 1-0 thanks to a Gerry Queen goal. Steve Perryman was substituted in the second half because Bill Nicholson was incensed that some of the lazier members of the team were using him to do their running. It was not very often Nicholson came down to the touchline but he was furious that night with the supine display of his team. In the papers the following morning Nicholson had a lot to say about his team, none of it to their credit except for Perryman. That match, as I have said before, was Greaves' last as a first team player, though not his last in a Tottenham shirt, as he later played for Spurs Reserves against Arsenal Reserves, which was briefly highlighted on Match of The Day, as Reserve team games were then played on Saturday afternoons.

Tottenham's record score 13-2 against Crewe Alexandra was compiled in a 4th Round replay on 3rd February 1960. We had been fortunate to escape from Gresty Road with a 2-2 draw but Tottenham were merciless in the replay, being something like 6-1 ahead by half-time. Les Allen scored 5, Bobby Smith 4, Cliff Jones 3 (one penalty) and Tommy Harmer.

I have commented before on our replay against Derby County on 7th February 1973. We had thrashed Margate 6-0 in the previous round but had been somewhat fortunate to draw 1-1 against Derby at the Baseball Ground. But when Mike England scored from the penalty spot to put us 3-1 ahead with ten minutes to play, we thought we were home and dry. Chivers and Gilzean had put us ahead earlier on but Derby had struck back. Then, in the dying minutes, Roger Davies had inspired Derby to pull us back from the elysian fields of the 5th Round and had scored twice in extra time to dump us out of the Cup.

Our next replay at this stage was not until 12th February 1979 when we beat Wrexham 3-2 after extra time, thanks to a Chris Jones hat-trick. I have no recollection of the original game at Tottenham, which had been a 3-3 draw, Hoddle, Chris Jones and an own goal by Roberts scoring. I do remember we had a very difficult tie against Altrincham in the preceding round. We required a Spud Taylor penalty to survive at Tottenham as the non-League side almost beat us but Colin Lee scored a hat-trick at Maine Road in the replay.

On 30th January 1980, we had a replay against Swindon Town, which we won 2-1, thanks to two Gerry Armstrong goals. Again, I do not seem to have any memories of this match and did not see the original game at Swindon, which seems to have been a bore-draw as it was 0-0. But we all remember who we beat in the Third Round as we had beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford, 1-0, thanks to an Ossie Ardiles goal. That was scored in the very last minute of extra time just as it seemed the tie would have to be replayed on a neutral ground. The match was memorable also for the fact Glenn Hoddle replaced Milija Aleksic in goal for most of the match after 'Elastic' had broken his jaw.

Our next replay at this stage was not until 1st February 1984. We had beaten Fulham in the 3rd Round (with Graham Roberts in goal for a long spell in the original match at Craven Cottage after Clemence had been injured). We had won the replay 2-0 thanks to goals by Roberts and Archibald. We had then drawn 0-0 with Norwich at Tottenham and lost the replay at Carrow Road 2-0. I have no recollections of this match, which, of course, had Tony Parks in goal.

I do have strong memories of our Cup ties with Notts County in 1985-86. We had struggled to overcome Oxford United in the Third Round, drawing 1-1 at Oxford on a freezing cold January day. I remember I was cocooned in sweaters and a thick anorak and still shivered to death in the Arctic winds. Some of our supporters that day were only wearing thin T-shirts and must have come close to suffering from hypothermia. John Chiedozie, one of my favourite players of that period, scored the goal that kept us alive. We won 2-1 at the Lane but it needed extra time. Clive Allen and Waddle scored our goals. We were then drawn against Notts County. We were bloody awful at Meadow Lane and almost threw the tie away. I remember watching John Pratt, then our Assistant Manager, chortling to Peter Shreeve as Notts County wasted a golden opportunity to win the tie. Clive Allen scored the goal that kept us alive. In the replay, we thrashed Notts County, 5-0, Clive Allen, Chiedozie, Falco, Hoddle and Waddle scoring in the rout.

We did not have another fourth round replay until two seasons ago when we drew 1-1 against Wolves at Tottenham and won 2-0 at Molineux. Last season, of course, we drew 1-1 at home to Barnsley and crashed 3-1 at Barnsley. Both of these games should be relatively fresh in one's mind, particularly that of last season when Stephen Clemence's dismissal changed the course of the game.

For the third consecutive season we have a 4th Round replay. It will be another tight match and I suspect it will need extra time to separate us. Much may depend on whether Ginola is fit to play but I have a feeling George Graham may be inclined to place him on the bench and bring him on as a substitute when Wimbledon start to tire. Whoever scores the first goal ought to go on to win as only one goal will probably settle it. If it goes to penalties, then I suggest Wimbledon are the likely winners.

Cheers, Brian

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