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MIDDLESBROUGH v SPURS - VIEW FROM THE SPURS END
Richard Samuels
And now for the first time, an opposition supporter shares his memories of a Boro clash from the past.
Richard Samuels (Spurs supporter)
Tottenham 2-0 Boro, 20/08/2005
White Hart Lane, August 2005. My first Spurs game since another clash with Boro in which a little Brazilian genius ran the show in a 0-0 draw. Spurs' first home game of the season and it's a big one. Boro were going to be our closest challengers for fifth place but after our pre-season 'Peace Cup' win in Korea, we're quietly confident. The atmosphere before the game is electric. The Lane is buzzing with an anticipation not present for years. The travelling fans, while numerous (unlike your home support) are inaudible.
And so to the match...
For the first twenty minutes or so Spurs are imperious in their ball retention and control. Middlesbrough don't get a look in, and seem happy to have it that way. Edgar Davids' first home game starts superbly, chopping the ex-Gooner gimp Ray Parlour in half within the first twenty seconds. For all the possession the mighty Spurs enjoyed, most was in front of the Middlesbrough defence, a trend that we have seen continue throughout the season. As the first half wore on, Boro started to get into it, with Yakubu causing one or two problems but spending more time on his arse than on his feet. The teams left the pitch at half time to a huge chorus of "boring, boring Boro", and I don't think anybody could really disagree.
They say football is a game of two halves and so this match turned out to be. Middlesbrough came flying out of the blocks after the break- it was like a different team had turned up. It was all Boro for a few minutes until a quick Tottenham break and a superb finish from Jermain Defoe made it 1-0. Your lot were not deterred though, and continued to push.
England's number one (England's England's number one) had to pull off a couple of cracking saves to keep the score-line in our favour. Some poor finishing also cost you and then a woeful substitution lost you the match. McClaren, seeing that you were the better side at that point decided to take off a defender and bring on a midfielder to make you more attack minded. Sensible tactics - but why bring on Doriva, a defensive midfielder? And a bad one at that.
This piece of genius swung the game back in our favour and the superb goalkeeping of Mark Schwarzer gifted us our second goal. Mido's lame shot (which I vociferously lambasted after he hit it) somehow worked its way through Schwarzer and into the net. Game over and to be honest we could have had another two or three as your three old and slow defenders found themselves subjected to waves of counter attacks.
After the match, it was announced that the Yid Army topped the Premiership. Yes, there's only two games gone but it feels like a new beginning. I am greeted at King's Cross by a group of Smoggies singing "top of the league, you're having a laugh" and then something about Geordies when they see I have Carrick on the back of my shirt. Yes- we were having a laugh that day and it appeared to be at your expense.
Roll on Sunday so that we may laugh some more.
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