Spurs 1-2 Town
Saturday, 22nd Dec 2001 20:36

Town's miserable run of 15 games without a Premiership win came to an end as goals from Finidi George and Alun Armstrong deservedly beat ten-man Tottenham. George Burley will hope that this first victory since the Derby game in August will finally bump-start Town's Premiership season. With Southampton losing at Manchester United Town are now just four points from safety.

Town lined up with only Marcus Bent up front and with Martijn Reuser returning on the left of a five-man midfield. In the centre were Matt Holland, Jim Magilton and Jermaine Wright with Finidi George on the right. The back-four were the now familiar Hermann Hreidarsson, Mark Venus, John McGreal and Chris Makin.

In the first minute of the game Matteo Sereni landed on Teddy Sheringham as he punched out a freekick from the halfway line. The England striker certainly felt the bulk of the Town keeper as the Italian flattened him.

Town's first shot was from Finidi George in the third minute, but his effort from outside the box went wide.

On 6 Matt Holland had a good chance when he got on to a cross, but his header down bounced into Sullivan's arms and not into the top corner of the net.

Two minutes later Jim Magilton hit a shot over after a long Reuser pass to Finidi George was knocked down for the Northern Irishman who hit hard, but high.

But, despite a promising start from Town it was Tottenham who went ahead in the tenth minute, and in not uncontroversial circumstances. Sergei Rebrov took on Hermann Hreidarsson and sent in a low cross for Simon Davies to slip the ball home. Davies, along with Sheringham, Taricco and possibly Anderton all looked to be in suspiciously offside positions as the ball came in, a fact that Martijn Reuser made very clear to the linesman. Referee Mike Riley rushed over and showed the Dutchman a yellow card.

Steffen Freund went close to adding a second on 15 when he hit a sharp shot from the left side of the area after a one-two with Sheringham. Sereni had little trouble with the save. Immediately Reuser put a shot over from thirty yards after a Town freekick.

John McGreal came close to his first of the season in the 20th minute when he headed a Venus corner just wide.

Two minutes later good work from Magilton and Finidi almost played in Chris Makin on the right of the area. The defender just failed to get on to the return ball from Magilton.

Reuser had another shot from distance on 22 when he hit a freekick against the wall after Magilton was fouled by Anderton. Five minutes later Reuser hit a shot just wide as Town pushed for an equaliser, keeping Spurs largely on the back foot.

On 26 Freund and Hreidarsson clashed after they had tussled on the byline. After a swift word from the ref all was sorted and it was handshakes all round.

It wasn't long before Town were deservedly back on terms. In the 38th minute Magilton had a shot deflected wide. Martijn Reuser took the resultant corner and John McGreal once again got his head on it. This time the ball went goalwards and from five-yards out Finidi George overhead-kicked the ball home with Bontcho-like precision. Off he trotted to celebrate his second goal in two games.

Spurs were quick to try to hit back through Christian Ziege. The German hit a rasping shot which bounced off Sereni's post. Town's final effort of the half was from Magilton whose shot was saved after a storming run from Finidi, playing his best game for Town since Derby.

At the break Glenn Hoddle decided to replace Chris Perry with Anthony Gardner. Town stayed the same and quickly had a chance to go ahead again. Sergei Rebrov broke down the right and played a low ball in which Ziege should have put away. Luckily for Town he hit his four-yard shot off the bar and the defence cleared.

Could this have marked a change in Town's luck? Possibly. On 51 things again went Town's way. Referee Riley halted the taking of a Spurs corner and called over John McGreal and Teddy Sheringham with the Town player feeling his face. With Town supporters at the other end largely unsighted, Riley produced a yellow card for McGreal and then a red for Sheringham, to a hugely negative response from the home crowd. Off Sheringham trudged as Town supporters began to eye a second League victory of the season.

Some of the Spurs players seemed to lose it a touch in the aftermath of the red card. Anderton was booked for a foul on Hreidarsson and Freund was booked for dissent.

On 58 Jermaine Wright hit a shot wide from just outside the area as Town sought to illustrate the numerical supremacy. In truth Spurs had largely the upper hand as Town switch to a 4-4-2 with Finidi joining Bent up front.

Les Ferdinand replaced Sergei Rebrov in the 67th minute and quickly hit a long-range shot at Sereni. He even managed to get on to the rebound but his low pass into the area was cleared.

Three minutes later George Burley replaced an injured looking Jim Magilton with Alun Armstrong. Finidi went back to wide on the right.

Mauricio Taricco, who had received a warm reception from Town supporters, had a shot deflected wide in the 74th minute as Spurs continued to press more than Town who looked to break quickly when they could. Richard Naylor replaced Marcus Bent.

On 80 Gardner headed wide, while Naylor headed to close to the keeper at the other end. A minute later Reuser broke down the left. His cross was blocked, but looped to Armstrong who almost flicked the ball past Sullivan.

John McGreal went down injured after 83 minutes and was stretchered off. On came Titus Bramble.

It was 87 minutes before Town went ahead. Gardner headed away poorly to Finidi on the right wing. Finidi settled himself and unleashed a nearpost cross which Armstrong headed perfectly beyond Sullivan and into the net. Armstrong and most of the rest of the side celebrated in front of the Town fans long and hard.

Spurs had three minutes of normal time to get back on terms and they threw everything forward, including Dean Richards. It was only a last ditch challenge from Venus which stopped the ex-Southampton man getting a last minute equaliser. Sereni pulled off more excellent saves as it was all hands to the pumps at the back for the Blues.

The ref's assistant announced four minutes of injury time and the Spurs attacks continued. Finally, with nails bitten down to the wrist and cigarettes smoked to the filters, referee Riley blew his whistle and Town had begun their escape act. The Town players celebrated once more with hugs all round and there will be a few drinks sunk in Ipswich this evening. Now we have three very winnable games in the space of just over a week and the return of Marcus Stewart. Things could look very different by January 2nd. Let's pray they do.

Photo: Action Images

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