Spurs 0 Newcastle United 0
This match marks my first visit to White Hat Lane for a first team game. Spurs had opened the season with a 2-2 draw at Wolves, coming from two down to earn a late point.
This game had little to commend it and the main point in the papers the next day was the crowd trouble behind the goals at the Park Lane end of the ground. The match had to be stopped for several minutes while the trouble was sorted out. The Newcastle goalkeeper was hit with a staple fired from a catapult, the referee appealed to the crowd to identify the culprits.
Spurs closed off this section of the ground for the next games.
18th August, 2007
Spurs 4 Derby County 0
I revisited White Hart Lane on the 36th anniversary of my first visit to see an under pressure Spurs take on newly promoted Derby.
Newspaper reports of manager Martin Jol under pressure and a rift among the players were answered within a minute as Steed Malbranque scored Spurs first goal. Within a quarter of an hour the result was assured with further goals from Malbranque and Jermaine Jenas.
A second half goal from Darren Bent completed Spurs' victory.
Derby County were poor and gave Spurs too much room. The return of Lee at left back gave some balance to that side of the team rather than having to play Stalteri out of position. Malbranque's goals were a reward for his hard work. he will never be the best player in the side but he worked tirelessly last week at Sunderland and also against Everton. Jenas showed his quality again but must reproduce it against the top teams, like Manchester United at Old Trafford next weekend.
A well-deserved win but the rumours of Jol's departure still linger on in the newsparers and on supporters' message boards.
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