Spurs in History - 10th February

Spurs goal scorer - record signing Sergei Rebrov

10th February, 2001

Manchester City 0 Spurs 1 Premiership

This game marked the fifth consecutive Premiership match in which Spurs kept a clean sheet. The goal scored by their record £11 million summer signing Sergei Rebrov in the 89th minute was the first in the same period and brought Spurs their first away win of the season.

Spurs League record through January and early February was:

Everton (a) Draw 0-0

Southampton (h) D 0-0

West Ham United (a) D 0-0

Charlton Athletic (h) D 0-0

Neil Sullivan and Ian Walker shared the goalkeeping spotlight for these matches with Walker appearing twice due to Sullivan’s suspension having been sent off in the first game of the New Year.

While the team was sound defensively the overall performances left much to be desired.

In spite of progress in the FA Cup with wins at Leyton Orient and Charlton, this series of scoreless draws and the signing of Andy Booth on loan from Huddersfield Town increased the pressure on manager George Graham. It further alienated him from the fans who would simply could not accept the former Arsenal player and manager as a suitable occupant of the manager's role at White Hart Lane - feeling that he had no appreciation of Spurs' style, traditions or history.

Changes were afoot at White Hart Lane with Sir Alan Sugar having sold his majority share to ENIC and within a few weeks the new controlling group would make a strong statement of intent by sacking Graham and replacing him with Glenn Hoddle, only days before the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.