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THE ROCKLIFFE FILES SPECIAL SPURS EDITION
Toby Higgins
As I briefly mentioned at the end of 'The Rockcliffe Files' last Tuesday, our home clash with Tottenham this weekend could shape the rest of our season. It promises to be a thrilling encounter between two sides who have European aspirations, and it's a tie which could go either way.
Spurs have proved tough opposition at the Riverside over recent years. Here is a brief look back at the last four seasons.
Saturday 20th March 2002 - Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1
A glorious Franck Queudrue free kick rescued Boro after Steffen Iversen had put the visitors in front.
Spurs started the brighter with former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet scuffing a good chance within the opening two minutes. But Boro rallied and Benito Carbone saw his stinging effort strike a defender and go behind for a corner after his raking ball had failed to pick out Noel Whelan.
But it was Spurs who took the lead on the 32nd minute, with Iversen making no mistake from close range after good work from Matthew Etherington. 1-0 Spurs.
And so it remained until the 69th minute when fan's Favourite French Franck (my English teacher would be proud of such outrageous alliteration) whipped home an equaliser from fully twenty-five yards. We loved him then, and we love him now. Let's hope Franck remains a Boro player for many years to come.
Saturday 3rd May 2003 - Middlesbrough 5 Tottenham 1
What an awesome way to end the season in front of the home supporters. Boro were simply too good for a weary Spurs side who can count themselves lucky that they only let in the five.
Boro were on their way in the twenty-third minute when Malcom Christie scored after a Szilard Nemeth effort was spilled, and Nemeth was heavily involved in the second as he was brought down in the box by Chris Perry, who was duly dismissed. Juninho's bizarre penalty resulted in the advantage being doubled, the ball initially stopping on the line after Kellar's save, before Juninho poked the ball home.
Nemeth was rewarded with a goal for himself just two minutes later as he followed up a Luke Wilkshire drive, meaning Boro went in at the break 3-0 up. Massimo Maccarone was introduced at half time and helped himself to a brace with two clinical finishes, with Spurs only contribution to the scoring coming on the hour as substitute Jamie Redknapp netted with a screaming free kick past the helpless Schwarzer. For the second season in a row, a blistering free kick was scored.
Tuesday 9th March 2004 - Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 0
Boro made hard work of this one. Spurs dominated early with Jermaine Defoe and Darren 'sick note' Anderton both going close. Boro's best first half effort came from Joseph-Desire Job when his weak effort was saved at the near post.
Half time saw the introduction of attacking demon Doriva and last season's two goal hero Maccarone. Michael Brown and Mauricio Tarrico both forced saves from Schwarzer with long range efforts, but the Big Aussie dealt with their efforts with ease. After an hour, Dean Richards hauled down "Snoop Jobby" Job in the area. For the second season in a row Boro had been awarded a penalty at home to Spurs, and for the second season in a row it was saved. This time it was Maccarone whose effort was kept out.
But Massimo redeemed himself by setting up Nemeth for the winner in the seventy-third minute, as the Slovakian express held on Richards, rounded Kellar and scored from an acute angle. For the second season in a row, Nemeth had scored against Spurs at home.
Saturday 7th May - Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 0
What a game! Having lost at home to Southampton at the end of March and only drawn at home to Fulham in mid April, European qualification looked out of the question. But a 4-0 thrashing of Bryan Robson's West Brom and draws at Newcastle and Liverpool meant that a win at home to Spurs would rule the visitors out of qualifying, and would mean a final day trip to Manchester City that would determine our fate. But we had to beat Spurs.
In front of a full house, Boro started like a side possessed. Nemeth rattled the bar from long range in only the second minute, and nine minutes later, we were in front. Bolo Zenden crossed to the unmarked Nemeth, who inexplicably mis-controlled with only the keeper to beat. It may well have been a blessing in disguise, as Nemeth chased the ball to the touchline, something not many strikers would do, and his cross was coolly converted from George Boateng after being deflected past Cerny.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoresheet, notably Ledley King for the visitors and Boro's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, but this was Boro's day. If the fans had known that when Zenden was replaced twelve minutes from time it would be his last contribution in a Boro shirt at the Riverside, the standing ovation he received may have been very different.
For the second season in a row, Boro had beaten Spurs 1-0 at home.
Sunday December 18th 2005 - Middlesbrough v Tottenham
Defeat to Spurs, who currently lie fourth, on Sunday is an unthinkable outcome. If it does happen, we will fall fourteen points behind them, a gap that we will find it very difficult to close. A win, and we are just eight points behind with upcoming home games against Blackburn and Manchester City.
I've got to predict a home win. We're going to go 0-1 down early in the first half and then play the best football the Riverside has ever seen, saving the match and the season in the process.
Maybe, (continuing the theme) for the second season in a row, a win against Spurs will keep the European dream alive...
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