Chelsea v Spurs - FA Cup 6th Round Preview

By MattoftheSpurs
March 10 2007

It was the 10th of February 1990. I was in the crumbling, uncovered, away end at Stamford Bridge. It was a freezing cold winter's day. The time was 4.41 pm and Tottenham were drawing 1-1 with Chelsea.

Chelsea Versus Tottenham Hotspur

FA Cup sixth Round.

Stamford Bridge.

Sunday 11th March 2007.

Kick Off 12.45 pm.

 

It was the 10th of February 1990. I was in the crumbling, uncovered, away end at Stamford Bridge. It was a freezing cold winter's day. The time was 4.41 pm and Tottenham were drawing 1-1 with Chelsea. Both Spurs and Chelsea were enjoying relatively successful seasons in the first division. Spurs would finish the season in 3rd place whilst Chelsea would go on to record a creditable 5th placed finish. 29,130 had crammed in to the decrepit old stadium. Knowing that the Spurs supporters would be kept in for at least 30 minutes after the game, and having lost the feeling in my fingers and toes before half time I started to make my way to the exit situated at the back of the stand to the right as I stood. As I got to the top of the stairs two policemen barred my way. They would not let me leave early. Despite being with my girlfriend at the time and pleading with them to let us out they flatly refused. Disgusted I turned away from the policeman and cast my eyes back towards the pitch. Just in time to see Gary Lineker score the winning goal. Of course I went mental. Jumping up and down and giving V signs to the Chelsea supporters who had hissed and taunted us throughout the game. Then I was tapped on the shoulder. Turning around I was face to face with the copper who would not let me out. "Bet your glad I didn't let you out now, aren't you?" Begrudgingly I turned back to the action to see the referee blow the final whistle and secure the win for Spurs.

 

That was just over seventeen years ago. That was the last time Tottenham Hotspur Football Club won a competitive football match at Stamford Bridge. If I had know then what I know now I may well have savoured the win a bit more. If someone had told me that I would still be waiting for Spurs' next win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge seventeen years later as I walked away from the old ground that day with a spring in my step I would have called them mad. But here we are.

 

The hoodoo that Chelsea seem to hold over us has been well documented (and is constantly dragged up in the papers every time the two teams meet) so I will not go over the details here. Suffice to say Tottenham's recent record against The Blues has recently been poor. It has not always been that way. Our record at Stamford Bridge is actually quite decent. Since our first match there in December 1909 (we lost 1-2 but the Blues were relegated that season) we have won 19 matches, drawn 12 and lost 27. In Tottenham's favour they have scored 74 goals whilst conceding 82. Since that fateful day in February 1990 we have lost ten of the meetings between the two clubs at the Bridge. As you can see that skews the stats. Up until recently Stamford Bridge was a good hunting ground for the Lilywhites. But that's all in the past now.

 

The current Champions of the Premier League have had a good season by most teams standards. They lie 2nd in the league table. The have secured the Carling Cup with a win over Arsenal, and they have just qualified for the quarter finals of the Champions League with a win over  Porto (3-2 on aggregate). There is no doubt that the FA Cup represents the least desirable competition for Chelsea and their supporters (I suspect that the Champions League is the competition that is most desired amongst the West Londoners) but that does not mean that Chelsea will be taking the competition lightly as they have not in the past. With Arsenal already out of the competition and Manchester United facing a tricky away tie at Middlesborough the winner of this tie could well go on to lift the trophy in May.

 

Less than a month ago an away cup tie at Stamford Bridge would have been seen as mission impossible for all but the most optimistic of Spurs supporters. Tottenham's travels on the road this season have been less than impressive this season. That was until the 17th of February. Away wins at Fulham in the FA Cup (4-0), Everton (2-1), and West Ham (4-3) have given the Spurs supporters some hope for this tie.

 

Chelsea supporters will point to the last time that a quarter final of the FA Cup was played between the two sides in 2001/02 season. Chelsea won that tie 4-0 at White Hart Lane. Spurs fans however will point to the last time a quarter final of the FA Cup was played at Stamford Bridge between the two clubs. Tottenham won 3-2 on March the 6th in front of 42,557 with Hazard, Hoddle, and Archibald scoring the goals against the then second division outfit.

 

Chelsea are unlikely to be without their talismanic captain John Terry whilst Spurs are still without their skipper Ledley King. Jemaine Jenas is a doubt after limping off against West Ham and being rested for the away win at Braga.

 

Chelsea's form going into the match is excellent. In their last ten matches they have won 9 beating Wycombe (CC), Nottingham Forest (FA), Blackburn, Charlton, Middlesborough, Norwich (FA), Arsenal (CC), Portsmouth, and Porto (CL). They only match not won in that sequence was away in the Champions League to Porto who they drew with 1-1.

 

Tottenham's form, whilst not as good, has recently been of a very good standard. In the last ten matches played Tottenham have won 6 beating Southend (FA), Fulham (FA), Everton, Bolton, West Ham, and Sporting Club Braga (UEFA). Three defeats in that period have been to Arsenal (CC in extra time), Manchester United, and Sheffield United, with a draw at home to Arsenal in the Carling Cup completing the sequence. Spurs' last five matches have all been wins in which they have scored seventeen goals. Four of the five matches have been away from home. Both continue to progress in their respective European competitions. Chelsea currently sit in second place in the English Premier League, 9 points behind Manchester United with a game in hand. Tottenham Hotspur occupy 8th place, 1 point behind Everton who are the current residence of the guaranteed UEFA cup spot that is the aim for the North Londoner's this season.

 

   1967

 

It's worth noting that 624 teams entered the 2006/07 FA Cup competition and now we are down to the last eight. As previously mentioned Manchester United travel to Middlesborough, Blackburn entertain Manchester City in probably the dullest tie ever in FA Cup history, whilst the only team outside of the top division Plymouth Argyle host Premiership strugglers Watford. It's at this stage that teams start to believe that perhaps they can reach Wembley (or Cardiff, or Hackney Marshes, or wherever the final is being played this year). If Spurs can overcome Chelsea then they and their supporters really will believe they can win it. It's a huge match between two clubs that have a passing dislike of each (to say the least). With over 6,000 Spurs supporters taking over the Shed End this is one not to be missed. Can we do it? You know, I think we can.

 

Live on BBC 1.

 

Audere Est Facere.