Tottenham 3 Stevenage 1 FA Cup

It's customary for the minnows or underdogs to get a late consolation goal as acknowledgement of their gallant effort.  Last night Spurs turned that idea upside down as Stevenage scored inside four minutes and could have added to it before Tottenham eventually came to life.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Stevenage 1  

(FA Cup 5th Round Replay)

Scorers:  Defoe (2), Adebayor (pen)       Byrom (pen)

Team: Cudicini; Kaboul, Dawson (Walker), Nelsen, Rose; Lennon (Adebayor), Parker, Kranjcar (Livermore), Bale; Van der Vaart; Defoe  Subs: (unused) Friedel, Modric, Gallas, Giovani

 Spurs Writers' Club - Tottenham, The Glory-Glory Game

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Spurs progressed to the FA Cup 6th Round and a home match against Bolton Wanderers but it was not as easy as the scoreline might suggest.  Spurs had put out a strong team with a strong bench for backup while both former Spurs, Chris Day and Ronnie Henry, were in the visitor's starting line-up.

Spurs started sluggishly, content to pass the ball around but in the third minute Joel Byrom made the first foray into the Spurs penalty area to be brought down by Ryan Nelsen.  A penalty which was duly dispatched, Cudicini diving the wrong way.  That was greeted with stunned disbelief by the Spurs fans and great exuberation from the Stevenage faithful.

Spurs looking to bounce back from two consecutive League defeats had just added to the pressure on themselves and for the next twenty minutes it just got worse.  First Michael Dawson had to be replaced, carried off injured, and then Spurs play went from bad to worse as their passing went awry and their play was totally devoid of ideas as Stevenage defended with composure and endeavour.

After twenty four minutes Spurs had provided no threat to Chris Day in the Stevenage goal but the visitors could so easily have been two ahead as a header from a free-kick looped over the crossbar.  Thirty seconds later, Spurs were ahead.  As one national paper put it, five touches later and Jermain Defoe had scored.  A short goal-kick from Carlo Cudicini to Gareth Bale, a long ball forward from the left found Defoe centrally, on the edge of the box, one touch to control and another to set himself and then a powerful strike past a diving goalkeeper.  That was the first FA Cup goal that Day had conceded this season - denying teams for over five games and a total of 475 minutes.

A sigh of relief from Spurs supporters, assured that the goal would see Spurs take control but it wasn't to be.  Certainly, Spurs play improved but Stevenage matched them and were deserving to be level at the interval.  Aaron Lennon had by this time departed, injured, to be replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor and he had nearly made contact with a pass from Rafael Van der Vaart just before half-time.

Into the second half and after three minutes, it appeared as if Defoe had put Spurs ahead following good work and a cross by Younes Kaboul but the England striker was ruled offside.  Stevenage continued to be a threat from corners and Cudicini had to make a sharp save at close range to keep them out.  Then Gareth Bale got the breakthrough they were looking for after ten minutes of the second half.  Gareth Bale made a run into the area on the right and as he was about to put in a cross, he was brought down and the referee signalled a penalty, having been advised by his assistant.  Adebayor remained calm to score easily.

That was the filip that Spurs needed as suddenly their play and confidence levels were lifted and Bale became an increasing threat to Stevenage by creating a number of chances for Defoe and Adebayor.  He also hit a thunderous shot against the crossbar but Stevenage weren't going to give up without a fight and their threat at set-pieces continued.  From one, they hit the bar with a header and the ball bounced down to land only inches from the line, to be grabbed by Cudicini. 

Spurs chances continued to come and go as Bale's pace caught Stevenage out but it was from a quickly taken long throw from his own half that set up Defoe for the third.  Gathering the ball from Bale's throw, Defoe ran on  towards the goal with the defenders uncertain what to do as he lashed a shot past Day.

Stevenage continued to work hard and can be satisfied with their performance.  If Spurs had scored any more goals the result would have been flattering to them.  Stevenage received a very deserved reception from their fans at the end but Spurs continue to the next round, one step closer to the 'Joy of Winning the Cup'.

Spurs were looking for a boost after their previous disappointing results but as they say in 'Deal or No Deal', "that tells us nothing."  It could be the start of something good or it might not.  The result against Everton will be a better indicator if Spurs have rediscovered their defensive composure and their attacking threat against Premier League opponents.

Worryingly for Spurs, Dawson will be out for the rest of the season while Lennon will be out for a spell with a re-occurrence of his injury.  The central defensive positions are of concern as Spurs will be looking for their two experienced campaigners, Ledley King and Gallas, to overcome their injuries and provide cover during the coming weeks.  The absence of`Lennon again reduces the attacking threat which Spurs can pose when both he and Bale are running at defenders from the wide areas.

How Spurs deal with these injuries and how they deploy the remaining players will determine whether Spurs can find the level of consistency needed to retain third place in the Premier League and if they can sustain a challenge for the FA Cup.  It will be an interesting few weeks for Tottenham supporters.

Michael Dawson’s Wembley Jinx Continues

Michael Dawson's Wembley Injury (from Metro.co.uk)

In the past playing at Wembley Stadium was often regarded as the pinnacle of a footballer's career when the only opportunity to tread the hallowed turf came through a Cup Final appearance or an international match. However, in this modern era there are so many games at the stadium - internationals, FA Cup semi-final and finals, League Cup finals, the Community Shield, Football League play-offs, random minor Cup finals and even pre-season tournaments, that to make an appearance there is not so highly regarded and for the top players it is common place.

However, for Michael Dawson, Tottenham's Player of the Year for last season, the new Wembley experience must be something of a disappointment. Over the past three seasons he has had five opportunities to play there but they have not been as memorable as he would have hoped for and if he were a superstitious person he might be starting to feel that the place is jinxed as far as he is concerned.

September, 2010 – First England Start
With numerous injuries to his central defenders Fabio Capello selected Dawson to play in the opening game of the European Championships against Bulgaria. He had a comfortable first half in an in-experienced defence and he covered frequently for the over-adventurous, over-lapping full-back, Glenn Johnston. In the second period as Bulgaria increased the pressure as they tried to level Jermain Defoe’s early first half goal, Dawson’s international inexperience showed as a headed clearance fell for a strike on goal and he was not just as controlled as when playing for Spurs. However, Dawson was ensuring England held their advantage but just before the hour as he went into a tackle he fell awkwardly and seriously injured his knee. It was immediately obvious to everyone that his injury was serious as the medical staff rushed to his aid. He departed the Wembley pitch on a stretcher in obvious pain with an as yet, undiagnosed injury. He will miss next week’s international and latest rumours suggest that he will be out for a lengthy period of time which is a major concern for Spurs.

Taking into account his previous difficulties at the new stadium, Michael Dawson is certainly not enjoying the Wembley experience.

2007-08 Carling Cup Final
Having helped Spurs reach the Final against Chelsea, appearing in four of the five games on the road to Wembley, including the famous 5-1 semi-final victory over Arsenal at White Hart Lane, Dawson cruelly missed out on the final through injury. Two weeks before the final, he sustained an injury early in the league game at Derby County and was sidelined for a month. However, as the team celebrated their stirring extra time success over Chelsea, Dawson showed his character and his pleasure for his colleagues and the club as he watched from the side-lines with a great smile, obviously enjoying the moment and not being overwhelmed by his own sense of disappointment at not being in the team that day.

2008-09 Carling Cup Final
Twelve months later as Spurs endeavoured to retain the trophy, Michael Dawson made it on to the pitch, partnering Ledley King in central defence. This time he played his part as the defence held firm against the strike power of Manchester United but after extra time the match remained goal-less and Dawson could only watch helplessly as United took the game on penalties. Another disappointment at Wembley for Dawson who had again played in four of the five games on the way to the final.

2009-10 F A Cup Semi-final
Spurs were looking good for another FA Cup final appearance, their first since Gazza and the 1991 success over Nottingham Forest, especially as they were playing Portsmouth whom they had defeated twice in the Premier League and who were facing relegation and were in serious financial difficulty. However, the match didn't go as Spurs would have hoped and Portsmouth displayed much commitment and determination and were proving difficult opponents. With no goals after ninety minutes the match went to extra time and looked to be heading for a penalty decider when the highly criticised Wembley turf played a crucial role in proceedings. Unfortunately, it was Michael Dawson who was to suffer as he slipped at a vital moment when he was about to clear the ball in the centre of the penalty area. The ball fell invitingly for Portsmouth who accepted the gift and went on to secure a two goal victory. Once again Dawson was left to rue his Wembley experience.

August, 2010 - England Debut
After enduring a long summer in South Africa, without getting a game at the World Cup, Michael Dawson finally made his long awaited England debut. Having appeared in a number of England squads, Fabio Capello gave Dawson his first full cap as a second half substitute for John Terry in the friendly against Hungary. In the early moments of the half Dawson looked nervous but with the game goal-less he was settling into the match when he moved to intercept a through ball but missed it allowing Hungary to progress into the penalty area. As the England defence covered the attack, Dawson recovered to try to make amends and when a deflected shot came across the goal, Dawson stretched to clear and prevented it from crossing the line. It was a close call but then the French referee's assistant decreed that the ball had in fact crossed the line and a goal was awarded. Television evidence shows that the ball didn't fully cross the line but Dawson had made the initial mistake which had allowed Hungary to create the goal scoring opportunity. Of course, he was wearing the England shirt with number '13'. Fortunately, as it was a friendly international and as England recovered to win the game, the press didn't make too big an issue of Dawson's blunder on his debut and hopefully he will have the chance to add to his international appearances in the future and avoid being a 'one-cap wonder'.

A great former Spurs stalwart, Gary Mabbutt, endured Wembley heartache before being able to enjoy the sweet taste of success at the stadium. Mabbutt had appeared at the ground on a number of occasions both for Spurs and England - he actually made his Spurs debut in the 1982 Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool. Howver, his greatest disappointment will have been the memory of the own goal which enabled Coventry City to wn the FA Cup in 1987. In extra time a cross came into the Spurs area, the ball hit Mabbutt on the knee and looped over the reach of Ray Clemence. Spurs had been clear favourites and it was the first occasion that Spurs had suffered defeat in an FA Cup final. David Pleat's team had come so close to success in all three competitions but in the end had fallen at the final hurdle. It was not until 1991 that Mabbutt avenged this disappointment when he held aloft the FA Cup as captain of the victorious Spurs side who had overcome many difficulties both on and off the pitch to secure their trophy and possibly the very existence of the club. Ironically, it was as Mabbutt challenged for the ball from a corner that Des Walker headed into his own goal to put Spurs ahead.

Hopefully, Michael Dawson will make a full recovery from this injury and in the not too distant future he will be able to set aside his Wembley disappointments and have some exciting memories to tell his grandchildren in the years to come.