Saturday 10th February 2001 FA
CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Rebrov, 89
Man City
(4-4-2):- Weaver; Haaland , Howey, Dunne, Granville; Kanchelskis (sub Ostendstad,
60),Whitley, Wiekens (sub Grant, 85), Tiatto; Goater, Huckerby
Subs not used:- Nash; Prior, Ritchie Booked:-
Tiatto
Spurs
(3-5-2):- Sullivan; Perry (sub Booth, 45), Campbell, King; Anderton(sub
Carr, 60), Freund, Sherwood, Leonhardsen, Young; Doherty, Rebrov
Subs not used:- Walker; Thelwell, Clemence No
bookings
Attendance:- 34,399
Referee:- S. Dunn
A
classic smash and grab away performance against a modest City side on a pitch
not conducive to fluent football. Spurs started with the same team as on Weds
night with Doherty up front with Rebrov and King at the back. City had new loan
signing Kanchelskis on the right wing of a side of journeymen or sub standard
players.
The
train journey up from London was quite eventful. I was amazed to find my Spurs
site featured in the Times Football Handbook, but dismayed to hear reports of
the Spurs hooligans getting off at Stockport for an arranged ruck and the Police
following other supporters around the centre of Manchester. This fixture has a
history of violence, notably the pitch invasion of 1993 and getting in and out
of Moss Side was always going to be tricky.
City had the first effort, when
Sullivan had a straightforward save from a 25 yarder from Wiekins and King had
to be alert to clear from a dangerous cross from Tiatto. Spurs had an early
shout for a penalty when Sherwood was clearly being held by Haaland, but ref’s
rarely give these, especially to away teams. City started brightly with Tiatto
and Kanchelskis giving good width to their play.
As with many Spurs matches on
the road, the game was quite scrappy and littered with errors, which make
claims that the Premiership is the best league in the world look laughable.
Much to my annoyance, Spurs continued to pump high balls forward, and even when
Doherty managed to win them, it never produced good possession. Its also
disappointing to see Perry with so much responsibility in starting attacks as
his distribution and vision are lacking.
The best Spurs chance of the
half fell to Doherty who headed wide from an Anderton corner. Soon after,
Huckerby, who often saves his modest best for games against us, skinned Perry on
our right and sent over a cross that Ledley King diverted on to the post and
along the goal line in to Sully’s grateful arms with Kanchelskis about to
pounce. From where we were at the other end of the pitch, this looked all over
a goal and we could not believe our luck when we realised we’d got away with
it. Maybe it was going to be our day.
At half time, while there were
the usual moans about the quality of the football, most people were happy with
our position in the match, but there was the usual concerns about where a goal
was going to come from. Graham, getting into this tactical substitution thing,
rang the changes with Booth coming on for Perry, with Doherty switching to
centre back.
I was still returning from the
bar when City had their goal disallowed and so cannot offer a comment, but who
cares. The ref did n’t give it, like he did n’t give us the Sherwood penalty
appeal. Apparently Sully muffed Tiatto’s cross after getting in a tangle with
the Sol man, and Huckerby hooked home the rebound. Nevermind eh!
Huckerby flattered to deceive as
ever, with the danger created by his pace being negated by his lack of brain. He did set up Kanchelskis
for a good chance and we were indebted to Young for a fine saving tackle. Young
had a good match at left wing back and I hope he gets and extended run in the
side in this position.
On the hour, Carr was
introduced at the expense of Anderton (when most people were wanting the end of
Sherwood or Leo) in what can be seen as a move to save the match rather than
trying to win it. Carr had a tough match against Tiatto and was restricted in
his usual forays forward.
City replaced Kanchelskis with
Ostenstadt at about the same time and he nearly scored with his first touch
when his glancing header from another Tiatto cross went wide of Sully’s left-hand
post from inside the six-yard box. King blocked a Huckerby effort later on but
that was the end of City. While Sol has not got a mention so far, it’s worth
mentioning that he was the single most important reason we got a clean sheet.
Spurs were playing mainly on
the break and had long-range efforts from Young (over) and Sherwood (wide),
while Booth missed his chance to open his account from an acute angle.
Spurs fans were contemplating
the record 5th consecutive 0-0 when out of the blue in the dying
minutes a break away move ended with Leo threading a ball through to Rebrov,
who all of a sudden was in on goal with only the keeper the beat, and managed
to slip the ball past Weaver to send the traveling fans mad. A magic moment,
giving us our first away win of the season.
At the final whistle, all the players
went over to the traveling fans, and although their work was over, we still had
the tricky task of getting past the Police holding back the Spurs fans for over
40 minutes after the end of the match (as City fans tooled up with Bricks were
waiting in an ambush), and then walking from Moss Side to the City centre
without getting battered. It was just like the old days in more ways than one.
|
Sullivan (6/10) – Did n’t have too much to do, but did what he
had to do competently Perry (6/10) – The weakest of our back players, especially
with the ball. Was replaced in the halftime tactical change which indicates
that he is behind Doherty and King for the Centre back places alongside Sol Campbell (8/10) – A great performance from the great man at the
heart of the defence, repelling everything that City threw at Tottenham King (7/10) – Back at Centre back where he made his name, and
turned in another good display, although nearly scored and own goal from a
Kanchelskis cross Young (7/10) – Left wing may not be Young’s ideal position,
but he turned in a polished display against City danger man Kanchelskis, so
much so that the latter was replaced. Left wing back is our problem position –
Clemence is left sided but not a wing back, Young, like Taricco is a wing
back, but very right sided, Leo combines being right sided with not being a
wing back and don’t mention Fatcha to me. Sunderland’s Michael Gray should be
on George’s shopping list over the summer imvho. Sherwood (6/10) – Man U have Keane, Arse have Viera and we
have Sherwood. The other two are first and second in the league and we are 11th.
Another game of hospital balls, losing possession in our half and lots of
pointing and shouting. if Blackburn want to buy him for £3m, I’ll pay his
train fare. Freund (7/10) – Does not stray from his simple remit of
winning the ball when we lose it, and giving a simple pass, but does this
fairly effectively Leo (6/10) – Is still struggling to regain the good form of he
displays at the start of the two seasons he’s played here, but always gives
100% and provided the pass for Rebrov to score the winner Anderton (6/10) – Man U have Beckham, Arse have Pires and we
have Anderton (when he’s not injured). The other two are first and second in
the league and we are 11th . Again struggles to live up to his
star billing, but does create what little we did as an attacking force. Was
replaced rather than Leo or Sherwood when Carr came on which suggests that
Graham does n’t fancy him as a central midfielder. Doherty (6/10) – A good match from Doherty who played the
first half as Rebrov’s partner, but replaced Perry in the back three in the
second. Will need to refine some aspects of his game to reach the very top, but has an excellent
attitude and looks a fixture in the first team these days. Rebrov (6/10) – Still struggles to get in the game enough with
our direct style and does not have many options when he has the ball
at his feet, but was in the right place at the right time to score the winner,
which will hopefully help his confidence. Subs Booth (6/10) – Again gave 100% but is coming up short of what
we need up front. Carr (6/10) – Great to see him back, but had a tough time
against City star man Danny Tiatto |