Friday, March 23, 2012

Spurs Away Record Against Chelsea

Tottenham's record at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea is horrendous.  They have not won their in any competition since 1990, a total of twenty four matches, twenty one in the League.

Spurs have not won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League era, they have lost thirteen of the nineteen Premier League matches played but prior to this period Spurs' away record against Chelsea was very good.

Premier League Record at Chelsea
P  19  W  0  D  6  L  13  For  12  Ag  37  

Away Record at Stamford Bridge pre-Premier League (Old 1st & 2nd Div)
P  44  W  19  D  7  L  18  For  67  Ag  56

Overall League Record: 
P  63  W  19  D  13  L  31  For  79  Ag  93

The stats clearly show the dramatic  change in fortunes that has occurred since the arrival of the Premier League.  From a ground where Spurs had a good record, it has become one not to be discussed and will be wheeled out once again on Saturday by commentators and Chelsea fans alike as a reason why the three points are Chelsea's for the taking.  It is hard to argue against such comments but perhaps this is the time to turn it around as both clubs battle, with Arsenal, for the final two places in next season's Champions League.
Gary Lineker's Winning Goal in 1990
Last Season's Match:
Apr. 2011  PL  Lost 1 - 2  Sandro
This match is typical of what has happened to Spurs when facing 'top 4' opposition in recent years.  Spurs had taken a deserved first half lead through a great shot from Sandro, his first goal for Spurs.  It looked as if they were going to have the advantage at the interval until with a minute to go Lampard took a speculative shot from distance.  It should have posed little threat for the goalkeeper, but Heurelho Gomes let it slip through his grasp and roll towards the line.  He managed to retrieve the situation and stopped it crossing the line but the referee's assistant signalled, incorrectly, that it was a goal and Chelsea were level.  This was just the lift that the home team needed, Spurs never regained the ascendancy of the first half but were looking set for a point with a minute to go, only for Chelsea to score from an offside position

Recent Matches at Stamford Bridge
Sept. 2009  PL  Lost 0 - 3
Hopes were high that Spurs could get a result as they had started the season well, suffering only one defeat in their first five matches.  Spurs created early chances without taking any of them but after half an hour Chelsea went ahead.  Early in the second half, Ledley King went off injured and after Spurs were denied a penalty for a foul on Robbie Keane, Chelsea scored two goals in five minutes to secure victory.

Aug. 2008  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Bent
An unexpected result, one of Spurs points in their '2 points from 8 matches' start to the season under Juande Ramos before Harry Redknapp was appointed two months later.  Spurs had lost their opening two games and were behind after half an hour.  They drew level through Darren Bent just before half-time and held on for a point.

Jan. 2008  PL  Lost 0 - 2 
According to Assistant Manager, Gus Poyet, "It was a tight match with not many chances.  Chelsea controlled the game and they are a team that will find a way to score and get the points even when they are not playing well."  A goal in each half secured the points for Chelsea.

Apr. 2007  PL  Lost 0 - 1
Martin Jol's side had played in Seville on the Thursday evening in the UEFA Cup quarter-final match and returned to play the early kick-off game on Saturday.  They lost to a hopeful shot from distance, early in the second half.

Mar. 2006  PL  Lost 1 - 2  Jenas
Another sad tale of so close but so far for Spurs who were trying to hold on to fourth place in the League.  Chelsea were ahead with fifteen minutes but Jermaine Jenas equalised on half-time from a free-kick.  In the final minute of added time, William Gallas, scored with a spectacular shot from distance to deny Spurs.

Sept. 2004  PL  Draw 0 - 0
In the words of Jose Mourinho, Jacques Santini 'parked the bus' in front of the Spurs goal and took a point as Spurs remained undefeated in the opening six matches of the season.  The result demonstrated the defensive strategies of the newly appointed manager.

Sept. 2003  PL  Lost 2 - 4  Kanoute (2)
Spurs took the lead and were comfortable until Chelsea scored twice in two minutes before the interval.  They added a third but Kanoute scored a second with three minutes remaining, only for the home team to score in the final minute.

Feb. 2003  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham gave Spurs an early lead but Chelsea drew level direct from a free-kick just before half-time.

Mar. 2002  PL  Lost 0 - 4
Spurs had beaten Chelsea 5 - 1 at White Hart Lane two months earlier in the Worthington Cup semi-final but they extracted ample revenge winning 4 - 0 in both the FA Cup and League in consecutive matches.  This was Spurs third successive four goal defeat in  a week having also lost to Manchester United.

We Can Win There!
Enough of this doom and gloom, Spurs last won at Stamford Bridge in 1990.

10th February, 1990  1st Div.  Won 2 - 1  Howells, Lineker
David Howells and Gary Lineker scored the goals with Lineker heading the winning goal from a Nayim cross with two minutes remaining.  Spurs finished the season in third place.

Nov. 1970  1st Div.  Won 2 - 0  Mullery, Pearce
One of the most enjoyable wins at Stamford Bridge, not for the quality of the football or the game but for the nature of the win.  On a wet day, on a very muddy pitch Spurs scored twice in the final minutes through Alan Mullery and Jimmy Pearce to take the three points.

A Memorable Encounter but Spurs Didn't Win (from ESPN site)
Chelsea 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League, 1993-94)
This was a match that had everything bar quality - a seven-goal thriller decided in the dying seconds between a Chelsea side that had not won for four games and a Spurs side that had lost their previous six.  "There were so many soft goals that it was possible to walk away from Stamford Bridge with the impression both sides had lost," The Guardian reported.

Spurs opened the scoring on 18 minutes through Steve Sedgley, and an unmarked Jason Dozzell instantly doubled their advantage, but goals from Mal Donaghy and Mark Stein - again, unmarked - had made it 2-2 by the 33rd minute, and seven minutes later Chelsea were in front when John Spencer was given the space he needed to strike.

Andy Gray netted an equaliser from the penalty spot on 73 minutes but nine minutes later, presented with his second penalty, Gray's effort was saved by Dmitri Kharine.  To add salt to Gray's wound, Spurs defender Dean Austin fouled Gavin Peacock in injury time, and Stein stepped up to give Chelsea the three points.  "The lasting memories will be of two sides committed totally to attack in the image of their respective managers Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles," the Express said, "although it would contravene the Trades Descriptions Act to say either team fielded a defence."

It Could Only Happen to Spurs
Dec. 1990  1st Div. Lost 2 - 3  Gascoigne, Lineker
This is the first game in that losing sequence, ten months earlier Spurs had won at Stamford Bridge but for this game the signs were not promising from the outset.  On the way to the match the team stopped for lunch at a hotel in Central London.  Their coach was parked illegally, clamped and towed away with the team kit inside.  Subsequently, they arrived late, handed in their team sheet late and were later fined by the Football Association.  On the pitch it wasn't much better as Gascoigne and Lineker's goals weren't enough to take the points.



Google

No comments:

Post a Comment