Wednesday 27TH DECEMBER, 2000
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
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The home of all Paul Smith's reports,
Beattie, 38
Davies, 40
Referee:- David Elleray
Attendance:- 15,237
Southampton (4-3-1-2):- Jones;
Dodd, Richards, Lundekvam, Bridge; Pahars, Draper (sub Soltvedt,
63), Marsden (sub El Khalej, 46); Davies; Tessem, Beattie (sub
Rosler, 87)
Subs not used:- Moss; Bleidelis
Booked:- Tahar El Khalej
Spurs:- (3-5-2):- Sullivan; Perry,
Campbell, Thelwell; Carr (sub Sherwood, 46), Anderton, King,
Leonhardsen, Clemence; Rebrov (sub Doherty, 60), Armstrong (sub
Korsten, 80)
Subs not used:- Walker; Davies
Booked:- Clemence, Campbell,
Anderton
JMD comment
Oh Lord - another away game another defeat
Spurs, with Leo in for the hopeless Sherwood and Armo in for
Sir Les, started well for the first 15 minutes or so, but Glennda
sorted things out and we never recovered. The first Saints goal
was a blatant handball by Beattie but it was shielded from the
slaphead ref and after getting his luck, he scored with an
excellent shot that on second view, gave Sully little chance.
Within a minute they'd scored again - exploiting space down our
left and with Carr left with two to pick up, Davies stole in at
the back post and guided a beautiful volley in off the post.
If all was n't lost then - it was when Carr did not reappear
for the second half and the great arm waving and pointing man (Sherwood)
was introduced - to arm wave and point. Doherty replaced Rebrov
and Armo was replaced by Korsten (the saints crapping themselves
at having to face these two) but Spurs huffed and puffed but
hardly had a scoring chance.
George pretended to be angry at something on the bench towards
the end of the game, but we've seen it all before and its neither
cool or clever and in the final analysis, he is an arsehole, and
an expensive arsehole at that - £3m to get rid of him at the end
of the season.
The plus points include a good game by King and Anderton, but
very little else - I thought we'd beat both Southampton and
Ipswich - I'm as bad as they are!!
Smithys report
Spurs resembled one of
those wafer thin mint chocolates that you have after your
Christmas feast. Tempting, because of their sweet appearance, but
unsatisfying due to their lack of substance. Yiddo Glenn Hoddle
outsmarted Gooner George Graham with a blend of football that
included everything Spurs did not have:- Strength, pace, movement,
flair, imagination, and penetrating tactics. Hoddle's team were
unpredictable, as players turned up in unfamiliar positions. Left
back Bridge pestered Spurs left flank in the early stages, giving
Clemence and Thelwell a torrid time. When he reverted to his left
sided slot, and Clemence took on forward positions, Pahars alone
pierced Thelwell's defensive efforts with ease. Perry was also
exposed too often, as Davies and Beattie were allowed licence to
use their greater strength by the weak officialdom of Elleray and
his linesman Norman (more of whom later). Hoddle had clearly
decreed that the attackers should try and avoid the tower of
strength in the middle - Sol Campbell - although he too suffered
earning a booking for a desperate foul on Davies as he powered
his way through the middle from a deep position.
Spurs best player - Stephen Carr -was
obviously only half fit, as he had to be replaced at half time by
Sherwood, who had been dropped in favour of Oyvind Leonhardsen,
who was largely anonymous throughout the game. Much as his form
has dipped, I prefer Sherwood, who does enough good things to
warrant his inclusion at the moment. It is significant that Spurs
did at least make more of an impression in the second half,
whilst still failing to truly threaten Jones' goal, whereas Neil
Sullivan again had to show good form to keep the scoreline down.
Sergei Rebrov once again failed to make an
impression, as most of his touches went astray. Armstrong had
replaced the injured Ferdinand, and similarly failed to make any
headway. It was one way traffic for most of the game, and must
have been as painful to watch on television, as it was to be
present on this freezing cold night in the tip of a ground they
call The Dell.
Within minutes, Spurs were under the cosh,
as Beattie found Tessem on the right, and a poor back pass
allowed Davies to get a sharp shot on goal, which skimmed the
edge of the near post. Spurs did have an early response as
Anderton took advantage of a poor clearance to start a build up,
which led
to Ledley King shooting over from close
range.
Linesman Mr Norman, who performed in front
of the Spurs crowd throughout, might just as well have been
wearing the home strip. First he missed a blatant handball by
Tessem, as he gave Clemence the slip. This led
to Clemence's booking as he protested with
Mr Elleray. The same linesman missed several offsides by the
Saints, and then in the second half seemed to raise his flag
every time Spurs got forward. Spurs player on the floor? Must be
their offence!
Soon after Campbell's foul on Davies, Tessem
got through and brought an excellent diving one handed save from
Sullivan. Spurs then had about two minutes worth of pressure, as
Clemence's long ball was reached by Armstrong who tried to chip
the goalie, but was thwarted. From the corner, Rebrov had a shot
blocked well. About the only other memorable Spurs attack came
when Rebrov chipped to Armstrong, and Clemence got a shot in from
close range.
Then came the misery. After 37 minutes,
Perry tried to hook clear, but could only hit Beattie in the
chest. Beattie took over as he raced in from the left, and curled
a glorious shot past Campbell and round Sullivan. The Southampton
fans chanted "Same old Beattie - always scoring", and
he is on super form at the moment. Within two minutes, Thelwell
was well beaten by Pahars who sent a cross beyond the defence,
for Davies to volley into the low right corner of the net.
Stephen Carr did put a cross onto Armstrong's head, but the
striker sent the ball the wrong way.
Spurs were under pressure early in the
second half, as substitute Tahar Khalej hit a low shot which
Sullivan stretched to save. In the follow up, Beattie went close
with his drive. Spurs had more possession in the second period,
but the best they could provide in the way of goalmouth action
was a cross from Leonhardsen, which Jones failed to hold, and a
late shot from Leo that went a yard wide. For all their efforts,
it was still Sullivan who was under more pressure, as Beattie,
Davies and Tessem gave him plenty of action.
As I write, the ground is snow covered, and
I can only hope that Saturday's Ipswich game is called off, and
that perhaps we can play them later in the season, when they
are very tired. On this form, Spurs are not going to win away.