22nd November, 1986Oxford United 2 Spurs 4 (1st Division)
Do successful teams come about through careful planning or due to some good fortune?
That question could be asked after this game which is regarded as the first occasion that Spurs played with five players in midfield and Clive Allen as the lone striker. The five midfield players were to support Allen who was having an exceptional goal scoring season. With twelve League goals before this game he added two more in the first half as Spurs came back from an early goal scored by former player David Leworthy to end Oxford’s unbeaten home run. Chris Waddle scored the other goals, his first of the season.
Belgium International Nico Claesen was the player to miss out with the introduction of this new system which proved very effective although it didn’t lead to any silverware adorning the Boardroom at White Hart Lane, missing out in all competitions - Spurs ‘Nearly’ team under David Pleat.
Clive Allen finished the season with a record breaking total of 49 goals in all competitions. [League – 33, Littlewoods Cup – 12, F.A.Cup – 4]
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