Saturday, September 23, 2006

It Can be Done - Success at Anfield

16th March, 1912 and 1985

Victory at Anfield

1912

Spurs won the 1st Division game in 1912 by 2-1 through goals from Ernie Newman and Thomas Mason, two players who don’t rank highly in Spurs history making only 39 appearances between them and this was the only goal scored by Mason. However, events over the next 73 years brought greater significance to their feat that day because in that time no Spurs team won at Anfield.

1985

Amazingly, on the exact same date in 1985 Spurs unexpectedly returned to London having won 1-0, thanks to a goal from Garth Crooks. It was a well deserved victory and at last Spurs supporters didn’t have to listen to tales linking the ‘Titanic’ and their results at Anfield. Clemence, Thomas, Perryman, Miller,Hughton,Chiedozie, Roberts,Hoddle, Galvin, Falco, Crooks.

and also 11th March, 1995

Liverpool 1 Spurs 2 F.A.Cup 6th Round

One of the truly memorable performances of the decade. Having fought back at Southampton Spurs had a visit to Anfield as their reward but it wasn’t a ground with many happy memories for them. Liverpool took the lead late in the first half but Teddy Sheringham managed to equalize right at the end of the half. In the second half Spurs played much better and it looked set for a replay but with two minutes remaining, Sheringham put Jurgen Klinsmann through to score the winner. A great result for Spurs but sadly it was not built upon as Spurs produced one of their worst semi-final performances when losing to Everton.

Hoiwever, sadly these successes were not added to today as Spurs went down by three goals to nil to a Liverpool side that got stronger as the game went on. They scored three goals in the final half hour as Spurs again failed to score. Their record in now two goals in 6 Premiership games and none of the three strikers who played today have managed to score this season.

Ironically, it was leading scorer, Jermaine Jenas ( 2 goals - 1 in League and I in Europe) who missed Spurs best chance of the game, only seconds before Liverpool went ahead. Davids who had just come on as sub, broke clear into the Liverpool penalty his cross was met by Jenas who had run half the length of the pitch to be in position but with the goal wide open, he had to stretch for the ball and sent it agonisingly wide. Liverpool went straight to the other end and took the lead. Liverpool raised their game and Spurs never looked like recovering.

It is a difficult time for Spurs without the creativity offered by Lennon. He will be missed until he recovers from injury but the players will have to raise their game significantly over the next few games, if the season is not going to become one long struggle at the wrong end ofthe table.

Martin Jol is facing his first major crisis in his time as manager of Spurs and iy=t will be a good teat of his managerial ability.

Come on Martin - we have faith in you.






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