TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST, 2000
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
http://www.spursodyssey.co.uk
Summerbell, 59
Leonhardsen,
41
Referee:- Peter Jones
Attendance:- 31,254
Middlesbrough (4-4-2):- Schwarzer;
Fleming, Vickers, Pallister (capt), O'Neill; Job (sub Whelan, 86),
Okon, Summerbell, Karembeu; Ricard (sub Campbell, 81), Deane
Subs not used:- Crossley (GK);
Stamp, Gavin Booked:- Summerbell,
Okon
Spurs (4-4-2):- Sullivan; Carr, Perry,
Campbell (capt), Thatcher; Anderton, Sherwood, Freund,
Leonhardsen; Rebrov (sub Ferdinand, 75), Iversen
Subs not used:- Walker; Taricco, Vega,
Clemence Booked:-
Iversen (foul)
Middlesbroughs
new signings Joseph-Desire Job, and Christian Karembeu caught the
eye for the hosts in the first and second half respectively, but
it was a homegrown replacement Mark Summerbell who equalized
Leonhardsens goal with an hour on the clock. In truth, one
could not argue with the result. Spurs took 20 minutes to get
going. Middlesbrough had more pace in the middle, but their
finishing rarely tested Sullivan. Spurs persisted with trying to
become an intricate passing side, but too often their last ball
fell into opposition ground, and the Spurs midfield lacked the
pace to resist counter attacks. The Spurs defence generally held
its line well, although Sol Campbell was guilty of several
unforced errors. Thatcher too made a few mistakes, but he did
redeem himself on the whole with some fine saving tackles.
Spurs fielded an
unchanged team and substitutes, whereas Middlesbrough rested Alen
Boksic, and had to leave captain Paul Ince out of the team.
Ricard tested Sol in a similar way to Johnson last Saturday, as
both are players who like to have their back to goal, receive and
turn. Spurs put themselves under too much pressure at times, with
needless free kicks conceded in dangerous areas.
There was an early
chance for Ricard, as Campbell failed to make Jobs cross
his own, showing uncharacteristic indecision. Job had the next
chance as he raced past Steffen Freund, and forced a save from
Sullivan. It is no coincidence that Spurs first decent attack (after
18 minutes)resulted from Stephen Carrs efforts. He and
Anderton combined on the right, and Sherwood chipped to Rebrov,
who overran the ball. After this point, Spurs dominated the first
half, as Anderton and Sherwood exchanged creative responsibility,
and indeed exchanged some telling passes. Anderton crossed for a
Sherwood header that went across the area, and Leonhardsen
following up hit a cross-shot off target.
Spurs at last started
to use the width of the pitch, as a long ball to Thatcher was
quickly crossed for an Iversen free header that went over the bar,
when he should have scored. Anderton dragged a shot wide of the
post from a Rebrov head-down, and Darren then nearly reached a
clever Sherwood chip over the defence.
The deserved lead came
after 40 minutes, when Carr passed to Iversen from the halfway
line, Iversen quickly fed the ball to Rebrov on the right, and
his super cross was headed home by Leonhardsen. Carr had caused a
little havoc in the Middlesbrough box shortly before the goal
with a run-in similar to that which led to his goal last Saturday.
Two minutes into the
restart, Sol Campbell did well winning and bringing the ball out
of his box, but then under hit his pass, allowing ONeill to
take advantage and cross to Deane who hit wide with Sullivan
struggling. Sullivan then did well to hold a Karembeu shot
following a short corner.
The home crowd were
getting behind their team, and the equalizer came from a
lightning attack. Karembeu pushed the ball out to the advancing
Fleming on the right, and his short cross was confidently headed
into Sullivans left corner by Summerbell. There was little
in the way of a convincing response by Spurs. Freund, Iversen and
Rebrov had a good exchange from a goal kick, which led to decent
Iversen shot just over the bar, but then Fleming eased his way
past Thatcher and Leonhardsen to get into the area, but
fortunately over hit his effort.
Les Ferdinand replaced
Sergei Rebrov, and did put a bit of spark into the attack.
It would seem that George Graham is going
to rotate his strikers within individual games, providing we can
keep enough of them fit! Les did seize upon a Stephen Carr shot
to flick it into the net, but he had been flagged offside. The
last chance came for Spurs as Leo teed up Carr, whose cross was
fired over by Steffen Iversen.
At this very early
stage in the season, Spurs are listed as second in the league,
only behind Middlesbrough on alphabetical order!