Tottenham v Bolton Wanderers Preview

Spurs will look to set aside the disappointment of the second team's defeat in the Europa League and continue their climb up the Premier League table.  In the past Bolton have proved awkward opponents for Spurs but the 'new' Spurs will want to ensure there isn't any disappointment at White Hart Lane for their fans come the final whistle.

This will be Tottenham's first Saturday home League match of the season and we're in December and have played twelve games.

Bolton started the season with an impressive four goal defeat of QPR at Loftus Road with Tottenham target, Gary Cahill, scoring their first goal.  Since then, however, they have struggled and have only three wins and ten defeats from their thirteen matches.  

After their opening day success they lost their next six League games to Manchester City (h), Liverpool (a), Manchester United (h), Norwich City (h) Arsenal (a) and Chelsea (h).  Their second win of the season came at Wigan (3 - 1) before they lost at home to Sunderland in mid-October.  An away defeat to Swansea (1 - 3) was followed by their first, and only, home win of the season a 5 - 0 defeat of Stoke City at the beginning of November.  They then lost at West Brom and Everton inflicted a 2 - 0 home defeat on them last weekend.  With only three wins and nine points Bolton are currently in 18th place in the Premier League.

Ivan Klasnic is their leading goalscorer with 6 League goals, Chris Eagles has 5 goals (4 in the League and 1 in the Cup) and Kevin Davies has scored twice.  Klasnic and Eagles both scored twice in the rout of Stoke.  Kevin Davies has scored six goals in his last six league games against Tottenham.

Bolton have a very experienced team with many players who have served them well in the Premier League.  David Wheater will not be available as he is suspended having been set off last weekend.

Premier League Home Record v Bolton
The clubs have met twelve times in  the Premier League at White Hart Lane.  Spurs have won 8 and drawn 2 of the games.
2010 - 11
Last season Spurs won 2 - 1 having got off to a whirlwind start when they were awarded a penalty after six minute which Rafael Van der Vaart scored.  A minute later and Spurs had another penalty.  Van der Vaart again scored but it had to be retaken for encroachment but he put the retake wide.  Late in the half it appeared that Spurs had another penalty but the linesman was flagging for offside.  Bolton equalised in the second half and would have earned a point but for a thunderbolt strike from substitute Nico Kranjcar in added time.
2009 - 10
The previous season a Tom Huddlestione strike was enough to give Spurs all three points.  This match at the beginning of May was part of the run of results which was to take Spurs into the Champions League.
2008 - 09
26th October, 2008.  Harry Redknapp had replaced Juande Ramos as manager but Clive Allen was in charge of the team which achieved their first win of the season.  Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent scoring the goals to give Spurs 5 points from 9 games.  Redknapp was there beside Allen even though he had only been appointed a few hours earlier.
2007 - 08
Bolton went ahead in the first minute of the second half but Steed Malbranque scored six minutes later.
2006 - 07
Spurs enjoyed a 4 - 1 success with goals from Robbie Keane (2), Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon
2005 - 06
An Aaron Lennon goal gave Spurs victory in the last home game of the season.  It came after an hour and fans celebrated as it ensured that Spurs were going on their first European tour for some considerable time with their qualification for the UEFA Cup.
2004 - 05
23rd October, 2004.  This match was played on the day that the sad passing of Spurs legend, Bill Nicholson, was announced.  It is the last occasion that Bolton recorded a win at White Hart Lane.  On a wet, grey October afternoon the ground was a sombre place and the team played in a similar manner.  They conceded an early goal, Keane equalised before half-time but Spurs conceded a second midway through the second half.

Harry Redknapp will restore his first choice players to the team and expect them to produce the required result.  If fit, Van der Vaart would probably start ahead of Defoe with Luka Modric restored to midfield in an otherwise unchanged team.  A win would take Spurs to second in the table ahead of Manchester United whose game doesn't start until 5.30pm.  It may only be a short stay but it is continued progress and would be Tottenham making a statement of their intent for the season. 

One must be wary, however, of assuming too much as in December, 1995 Spurs were looking to go second in the table with a win over bottom placed Bolton but the visitors put an end to that idea.  Bolton were newly promoted to the Premier League and had lost nine away games in succession.  They had no away points and Spurs had secured a two goal lead with second half strikes from Chris Amstrong and Teddy Sheringham.  However, a distraction was created when former player Nayim was shown on the big screen.  The crowd chanted 'Nayim from the halfway line' in recognition of his goal in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final over Arsenal.  Spurs lost concentration and conceded two goals in three minutes with the equalising goal scored by former Spurs player, Gudni Bergsson.  This gave Bolton their first away point of the season and denied Spurs second place.  

Note to Spurs TV - no crowd shots on Saturday. 

Spurs' Goal Scoring Debutantes in Premier League

Sixteen players have scored for Tottenham Hotspur on their debut in the Premier League. New signing Tanguy Ndombele joins an interesting group of players - some who are fondly remembered at the club, while others have been long forgotten. 

(Up-dated: Aug. 2019) 

Sol Campbell: (Dec. 1992)* In the first season of the Premiership Campbell made his debut as a late substitute against Chelsea at White Hart Lane. His goal was a late consolation in a 2-1 defeat. Campbell went on to captain Spurs to a Worthington Cup success at Wembley against Leicester City in 1999 but he will never be forgiven by Spurs fans for the way he left the club in 2001 on a Bosman free to sign for their near neighbours and greatest rivals, Arsenal.

Ronnie Rosenthal: (Feb. 1994) Battling against relegation Ossie Ardiles signed Rosenthal to bring some experience to the team which was struggling to score goals due to a long-term injury to Teddy Sheringham. In his debut at home to Sheffield Wednesday Rosenthal scored but it didn't prevent Spurs losing 1-3. The highlight of Rosenthal's career with Spurs was the hat-trick he scored against Southampton in the FA Cup in 1995. Spurs were two down at half-time but Rosenthal came on as a substitute and scored twice to take the game to extra time. He completed his hat-trick (three tremendous goals) to give Spurs an improbable 6-2 victory.

Jurgen Klinsmann: (Aug. 1994) (pictured) Spurs were in deep trouble having been severely punished by the Football Association for financial irregularities. Chairman, Alan Sugar had managed to persuade Klinsmann to join Spurs and his presence gave Spurs an immediate boost and an opening day success against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Klinsmann scored in a 4-3 victory, introduced his 'dive' celebration and was carried off injured on his debut. Klinsmann formed an exciting goal scoring partnership with Teddy Sheringham but unfortunately it didn't produce any silverware for the club and he departed at the end of the season. His later return was not as effective although he scored four vital goals against Wimbledon to save Spurs from relegation under Christian Gross.

Dean Richards: (Sept. 2004) Signed from Southampton by Glenn Hoddle, defender Richards scored against Manchester United as Spurs took a three goal lead in the first half. However, that was as good as it got as after half-time United stormed back at White Hart Lane to win 5-3. Richards career at Spurs was blighted by injury.

Fredi Kanoute: (Aug. 2003)* Signed from West Ham United during the summer he made his debut at home to Leeds United. His substitute appearance in the first home game of the season ensured Spurs' 2-1 victory. A player of great technique, Kanoute's languid style divided supporters but he scored many important goals before his departure to Seville in 2005. After his departure some supporters came to realise what he brought to the team.

Mbulelo Mabizela: (Oct. 2003)* Signed by Spurs following their summer tour to South Africa, Mabizela made his debut as a late substitute at Leicester City. He scored the winning goal in the 2-1 success but failed to build on that promising start to his Spurs career.

Jermain Defoe: (Feb. 2004) Signed from West Ham United, Defoe was an instant hit scoring early on his debut against Portsmouth at White Hart Lane as Spurs won 4-3. A regular goal scorer he left for Portsmouth in January, 2008 but returned a year later and was part of the team which took Tottenham into the Champions League under Harry Redknapp. By the time of his departure in February, 2014, he had made 363 appearances, scoring 143 goals in all competitions. At that time he was Tottenham's 5th highest goalscorer and their highest scorer in European competitions. Harry Kane has since overtaken him in both of those rankings.

Mido: (Feb. 2005) A loan signing Mido made an impressive debut against Portsmouth, scoring twice. He became an important member of Martin Jol's team which just missed out on a Champions League place. When his application and effort were right, Mido was good and scored vital goals but he struggled to maintain his fitness and this endeavour.

Gilberto: (Mar. 2008)* A disappointing signing, the Brazilian rarely showed his true ability but scored in a 4-0 victory, having come on as a substitute against West Ham United at White Hart Lane. He had played his first game for Spurs in a UEFA Cup tie against PSV Eindhoven in mid-week but it was his error which had given the visitors the only goal of the game.

Sebastien Bassong: (Aug. 2009) His headed goal against Liverpool on the opening day of the 2009 - 10 season made him the tenth Spurs' player to score on their Premier League debut.

Danny Rose: (Apr. 2010) He made his league debut against Arsenal, scoring the first goal of the match after ten minutes as Tottenham won 2–1 in the Premier League on 14 April 2010. The goal was subsequently described as "a volley so thunderous that you could hear the whack off his boot above the din of the raucous crowd" in The Times. Rose won Goal of the Season, with votes run by Sky Sports and by the Tottenham website.

Emmanuel Adebayor: (Sept. 2011) Having joined Spurs on loan from Manchester City, in the 67th minute of his debut for Tottenham against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in September, 2011, Adebayor collected a through ball from Scott Parker and coolly scored his first goal for his new club. This set Spurs up for their first Premier League win of the season and made him the twelfth Tottenham player to score on their Premier League debut.

Moussa Dembele: (Aug. 2012) A match in which Spurs were struggling came to life in the second half when substitute Moussa Dembele scored from the edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, it wasn't a winning debut as battling Norwich City levelled the scores with a few minutes remaining.

Roberto Soldado: (Aug. 2013) A second half penalty as Spurs visited London rivals, Crystal Palace, secured the points for Tottenham. The penalty came four minutes after the restart when a cross by Lennon was handled. Soldado stepped up confidently to score on his debut and set Spurs on their way with the only goal of the game.

Eric Dier: (Aug. 2014) Having joined Tottenham less than two weeks earlier, the 20-year-old Dier made an immediate impact at the club – impressing in central defence and also with his coolness when scoring the late goal. Played in by Harry Kane in the 92nd minute, Dier took the ball wide of the advancing West Ham goalkeeper and placed the ball into the open goal. With the goal coming so late in the game it was guaranteed to grab the headlines as it provided Mauricio Pochettino with a winning start to the season for Spurs.

Tanguy Ndombele: (Aug. 2019) Tottenham's record signing, costing £55m, made his debut against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A goal behind from the 9th minute and looking set to lose their first game, it was in the 73rd minute that Ndombele received the ball from Lucas Moura and fired in a shot from outside the box, to equalise and calm the worried Spurs' supporters. This lifted the team and the fans as Tottenham went on to win 3-1 with two goals in four minutes from Harry Kane as the game drew to a close.

* Players who made their debut as a substitute

Pre-Premier League Goal Scoring Debuts

Many players have scored on their debut prior to the creation of the Premier League. That list of players include many legends:

• Jimmy Greaves (a hat-trick against Blackpool (h))


• Martin Chivers (2 at Sheffield Wednesday)


• Colin Lee (4 in a 9-0 demolition of Bristol Rovers at White Hart Lane in Spurs last season in the old Second Division)


• Ricky Villa at Nottingham Forest


• Garth Crooks against Nottingham Forest

Spurs in History - 13th October

13th October, 1894

Spurs 3 West Herts 2 F.A.Cup 1st Qualifying Round

This was Spurs’ debut in the F.A. Cup against the team who would become known as Watford.  Spurs first F.A. Cup goal was scored by Peter Hunter. The other two goals came from Donald Goodall. The match played at the club’s old Northumberland Park ground was watched by a crowd of 2,000. Spurs progressed to the fourth Qualifying Round before losing in a replay to Luton Town.

From: 'All Those Cup Finals' by wlhatwhl

Spurs’ first FA Cup tie was played at their Northumberland Park home on 13th October, 1894 against West Herts in the 1st Qualifying Round. West Herts was a former name of Watford and they were experienced Cup performers having played in the competition for the previous eight seasons. Spurs, however, won 3-2, in what ‘The Weekly Herald’ for 19th October, 1894 described as ‘a very hard struggle.’  Spurs scored twice in the first half through centre forward, Peter Hunter and Don Goodall. West Herts levelled after half-time before Goodall scored his second to put Spurs through.

Further in ‘The Weekly Herald’ it was reported that after Hunter scored, ‘Spurs attacked almost continuously from now to half time.’  Reviewing the game at half time, the paper expected that ‘Having had four-fifths of the game with the slope against them it was naturally expected that the ‘Spurs would be the superior lot in the second half.  But how often does the unexpected happen. Whether they had been dosed with some wonderful physic during the interval, I can’t say, but, West Herts now played with the utmost vigour.  A corner was obtained directly after the restart, and Wright directed the ball into the net, cheers from the visitors supporters – of whom, by the bye, there were several – greeting such a successful recommencement.’  In the latter stages of the game, after Spurs had regained the lead, it was reported that, ‘Eccles tried his luck, and it appeared that the ball went under the cross-bar, but the referee ruled otherwise.  The visitors, although trying hard, failed to equalise and so the ‘Spurs won by 3 goals to 2.’

The names of that first FA Cup team will be known by only the most fanatical of Tottenham Hotspur supporters but are worth recording as they were the players who set Spurs off on the road to their wonderful history of success in the competition.

Team: Monk; Jull, Welham: Shepherd, Briggs, Julian; Cubberley, Goodall, Hunter, Eccles, Payne.

Of those players, full-back Jack Jull is the only one who has any connection with the club’s earliest days.  He was one of the founders of the club and was one of the best players at that time, playing for them for fourteen years from 1883 until 1897.  He was made club President in 1895 in recognition of his great service to the club.

Two other players of note are half-back Stanley Briggs and winger Ernie Payne.

Ernie Payne is regarded as the catalyst which brought Spurs into the world of professional football to which Stanley Briggs was so opposed.  In 1893, eleven years after their formation Spurs drew 0-0 in a 1st Round London Senior Cup tie against Old St Marks.  For that game, a new name, ‘Burton’, appeared on the team sheet, to play on the left wing for Spurs.  This was in fact, Ernie Payne who was on Fulham’s books but being unable to get into their team, he had accepted an invitation to play for Spurs.  However, when he arrived at Tottenham he had no kit.  Spurs provided him with shirt, shorts and socks but were unable to find boots to fit him.  They gave him a loan of ten shillings (50p) to buy a pair of boots on the understanding that they would belong to Spurs.  When Fulham heard about this they accused Spurs of ‘poaching’ their player and ‘professionalism’.  Spurs were immediately called before the London Football Association to answer these charges.  The charge of poaching was dismissed but the charge of inducing a player and professionalism was upheld.  The penalty imposed on Spurs was harsh – their ground at Northumberland Park was closed for two weeks, Spurs were suspended for a similar period and Ernie Payne was suspended for a week even though he had repaid the money to Spurs.  An appeal was lodged but it was unsuccessful, the London F.A. being strongly opposed to anything suggesting of professionalism, a view that was holding back the development of football in London.  This matter became known as the ‘Ernie Payne Boots Affair’ and while Payne continued to play for Spurs, he is best remembered for the longer term consequence of the matter in that Spurs within a short period of time decided to turn professional.

Stanley Briggs was one of the best known amateur footballers in London at that time.  He helped to establish Spurs as a top amateur club and captained the side.  However, he was totally opposed to the decision of the club to turn professional in December, 1895 and preferring to retain his amateur status, he did not play as often for the club and went to play for other amateur clubs in London.

In that initial season in the FA Cup, having defeated West Herts, Spurs progressed to the 4th Qualifying Round before losing to Luton Town in a replay.  While Spurs were still amateurs, Luton Town had adopted professionalism four years earlier.

3rd November (2nd Qual. Round) v Wolverton (h) Won 5-3 Goodall, Hunter (2), Payne (2)
24th November (3rd Qual. Round) v Clapton (a) Won 4-0 Eccles (2), Hunter, Goodall
15th December (4th Qual. Round) v Luton Town (h) Draw 2-2 Eccles, Cubberley
19th December (4th Qual. Round Replay) v Luton Town (a) Lost 0-4