THE NEW YEAR PERIOD (i) Spurs Home, 29th December.

By Mark Deeks
January 8 2003

THE NEW YEAR PERIOD (i)
Spurs Home,
29th December.

Big game this. Spurs seemed to be getting even more cocky than usual and starting to chelp aboout being worth a Champions' League place. Please. A couple of wonder goals from Irish whiner Keane and a couple of decent performances from Kasey "no I'm not bald yet" Keller, does not a decent team make. No Tottenham, fight for the slim possibility for a UEFA place again you shall.

With the games coming thick and fast over the festive period, and the debacle at Bolton only three days previously to get out of our system, I entered SJP knowing that three points were vital to get the new year league position looking as positive as possible.

I remain convinced that despite Gary Speed's opening strike, the guy was having a very poor season, when injury struck and he was forced off with still most of the match to play. The replacing Jenas was fine by me. However, by the time the first half was tailing off, and the injuries to Dyer and Solano becoming more apparent by the minute, the midfield was looking decidedly under strength.

Incidentally, the (loosely termed) "challenge" on Solano's nut by Taricco, which left our Peruvian midget wondering what country he was in let alone what day of the week it was, was a disgrace. The fact that it was followed by not even a word in the flea-like from the ref was even more shocking. The guy should have walked. From behind. Without looking at the ball. We felt the thud in our seats. Horrible.

When the teams re-emerged, I think I witnessed the most talk-filled 45 minutes I can remember from eleven men in black and white. There were people out of position, and far from first choice, all over the place. Yet by constantly talking, and reminding each other of their jobs (with an especially vocal performance from Sir Bobby), we ground out a good result. Steven Caldwell at right back, and Aaron Hughes in the holding role of midfield was hardly ideal, but Spurs couldn't break it down.

It was only when the flying Greek Dabizas decided that things weren't interesting enough with us having a rare two goal lead, and planted an unstoppable diving header past the disbelieving Given, that things got a bit tense. But in the end, it was job done. Well done lads.