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DATE:
Wednesday 28th December 2005
MATCH PREVIEW BY: Martyn Todd
Did you have
a very Merry Christmas? Hopefully you did and now that the turkey has gone down, and the
presents have been un-wrapped, let’s get back to
football. Three days before the New Year and The Hawthorns welcomes back a
face from the past in former midfielder Martin Jol.
Albion will
be looking to bounce back from their Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United
whilst Spurs will be hoping to build on their 2-0 victory against Birmingham
City. Baggies' boss Bryan Robson could be facing a selection headache with a
number of players doubtful for the game, amongst them influential defender
Paul Robinson who was stretchered off at Old Trafford. Thankfully, some good
news did come out of the United game - Zoltan Gera making his long awaited
return from injury with no ill effects. COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!! ALBION Baggies' boss
Bryan Robson could be without four key players for the visit of Spurs.
Paul Robinson is a major doubt after suffering concussion at Old Trafford
whilst Neil Clement (ankle) and Junichi Inamoto (thigh) are both rated as
having only a 50/50 chance of being fit. Danish defender Thomas Gaardsoe
also faces a race against time to be fit after picking up a hamstring
injury against United. Possible Line-up:
Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Davies, Gaardsoe, Watson, Kamara, Gera, Wallwork,
Greening, Ellington, Kanu. TOTTENHAM
HOTSPUR Spurs could be without influential
defender Ledley King after the England star picked up a groin strain
against Birmingham on Boxing Day. Andy Reid and Wayne Routledge are both
definitely out and Tottenham boss Martin Jol must also decide whether to
recall Jermain Defoe to his starting line-up after the striker came off
the bench to score in the 2-0 victory over Steve Bruce's men. Possible Line-up:
Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King, Lee, Lennon, Carrick, Davids, Jenas,
Keane, Defoe
THIS SEASON
Spurs
currently lie in 4th place in the Barclays
Premiership with 34 points from
18 games. Mido is the club's leading scorer with
seven league and cup goals.
Martin Jol's men have
won four of their last five league
games, their last match seeing them beat
Birmingham City 2-0 at White Hart Lane. In
September they were knocked out of the Carling Cup in the 2nd round by
League Two side Grimsby Town. LAST SEASON
Spurs finished 9th in the Barclays Premiership with
52 points. They were beaten in
the FA Cup quarter-finals by Newcastle United and were beaten in the
quarter-finals of the
Carling Cup by Liverpool.
Jermain Defoe finished the season as the club's top goalscorer
with 22 league and cup goals. ONES TO WATCH
Jermain Defoe - For what he lacks in size he
more than makes up for with pace and power. Clinical in front of goal, he is
without a doubt one of this country's best strikers. Edgar
Davids - Has dismissed any notion that he is past his best with a number
of impressive displays for Martin Jol's men. Tough tackling, skilful
and a useful passer of the ball, Davids is a midfielder that drives his side
on at every opportunity. A real class act.
Robbie Keane - Tricky and hard working striker who is always dangerous
in and around the opposition penalty area. With a particularly good record
against Albion, he really will be 'one to watch'.
Albion's first competitive meeting with Tottenham came
in the 1901 FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. Spurs, who were then a
Southern League team pulled off a shock as they beat First Division Albion
by four goals to nil.
The first league meeting of the two clubs took place in
November 1908 when Albion ran out 3-0 winners at The Hawthorns thanks to
two goals from Charlie Hewitt and one from Billy Garraty. The return game
at White Hart Lane the following March also ended with an Albion victory -
this time 3-1 - again with two goals from Hewitt and one from Garraty.
Albion's best ever win against Spurs came at The
Hawthorns in February 1927 when goals from Joe Carter (2), Stan
Davies (2) and Sammy Short helped the Baggies to a 5-0 victory. The only
other time Albion have hit five goals past Spurs came in October 1922 in a
Hawthorns clash that ended 5-1 to the home side.
Spurs have registered a 5-0 victory against Albion four
times - in 1951, 1959, 1970 and 1986 - each time at White Hart Lane.
Albion's last league victory against Spurs came at
White Hart Lane in November 1984 when goals from Derek Statham, David
Cross and Steve Mackenzie helped Johnny Giles' side to a 3-2 victory.
The Baggies' last league victory on home soil against
Spurs came in March 1982 when a Cyrille Regis goal gave Albion a 1-0
victory.
Albion did record a 4-1 victory over the men from North
London in February 1988 in a benefit match at The Hawthorns for the
dependants of Mick Brown, Albion's assistant commercial manager who was
killed in a car crash in November 1987.
LAST
Albion
1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Albion: Hoult,
Scimeca, Purse, Gaardsoe, Robinson,
Goalscorer:
Gera 3
Tottenham
Hotspur: Robinson,
Pamarot, Naybet, King, Edman, Redknapp (Brown 78), Davis, Mendes, Atouba
(Jackson 88), Defoe (Keane 67), Kanoute.
Subs Not
Used:
Keller (gk), Gardner Goalscorer: Defoe 34
Referee:
Barry Knight (Orpington)
Assistant
Referees:
Robert Lewis (
Half-Time:
Albion 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Attendance:
27,191 Sky Sports Match Report: It was a case of honours even at The Hawthorns as
West Bromwich Albion were held to a 1-1 draw by Tottenham Hotspur. Although they took a lead just three minutes in through
Zoltan Gera - on his first start - Tottenham's Jermain Defoe levelled and
the woodwork played a significant role in preventing further goals -
extending both sides' unbeaten records. West Brom had a goal from Kanu ruled
out for offside, just after the same player had smashed the ball against the
post, but not to be outdone Defoe also left the woodwork shaking with a
drive early in the second period. West Brom got off to a wonderful start against
Tottenham, with Gera firing home a fine goal just three minutes in. The
Hungarian latched onto Riccardo Scimeca's clever header over the top, killed
the ball with his first touch and lashed a shot past keeper Paul Robinson in
the Spurs goal. Six minutes later and only a fine tackle from Ledley King
denied Geoff Horsfield a shot on goal, but Spurs were beginning to look
threatening. Fredi Kanoute waltzed through the defence to the by-line, but
his cut back was badly placed, and only a kind deflection off Darren Purse
stopped Pedro Mendes opening his account for Tottenham with a shot from
outside the box. Defoe served warning of what he was capable of when a shot
fizzed just wide of the post after clipping Andy Johnson, and came inches
away from capitalising after Hoult could only parry Sean Davis' shot but the
England international was not to be denied. Hoult had looked a little out of
sorts throughout and he was desperately slow to get down to Defoe's accurate
shot - letting the ball spill through his arms and into the back of the net.
The Baggies could have gone in ahead, but Kanu's snap effort rocketed
against a post, Horsfield's follow up was brilliantly parried by Robinson
and although the ex-Arsenal man converted acrobatically from the rebound the
flag was rightly raised. Spurs started the second half looking like a side with
the belief that they could win the game. Defoe's quick feet saw him smash
the ball past Hoult again, but look on as his effort cannoned off the post
with some force, and Davis brought a fine snap save from Hoult - atoning
somewhat for his earlier error. Horsfield went down claiming a penalty but
was rightly denied, whilst Neil Clement nearly added to his goal tally at
the wrong end, watching gratefully as a wicked free kick drifted narrowly
wide after slicing off his shin. Robbie Keane completed his comeback from
injury with a substitute appearance, replacing the limping Defoe - and he
nearly laid on the perfect pass for partner Kanoute, only for a foul to be
given against the Mali international. West Brom shut up shop in the final
ten minutes, and a draw is a fair reflection of the match. So both sides continue unbeaten - although Tottenham
have the advantage over West Brom in the league having picked up a win in
this campaign.
CURRENT CONNECTIONS
Spurs boss Martin Jol spent almost three years
as an Albion player after joining from Dutch club FC Den Haag in October
1981. He left The Hawthorns in June 1984 for Coventry City. PAST CONNECTIONS
Amongst the
players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Gerry
Armstrong, Freddie Cox, Garth Crooks, Ruel Fox, Graham Roberts and Steve
Walford.
Ossie Ardiles, who managed Albion during the
1992/93 season was a Spurs player and quit his job at The Hawthorns to take
over as boss at White Hart Lane. Ardiles' assistant at The Hawthorns -
Keith Burkinshaw - himself a former Spurs manager took over as Albion
boss; Vic Buckingham played for Spurs and later managed Albion;
Jesse Carver managed Albion before becoming a coach at White Hart Lane;
Ex-Albion physio Danny Thomas was a Spurs player when injury cut
short his career; Current Wycombe manager John Gorman has coached at
both clubs.
ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
LAST TEN MATCHES AGAINST TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Tickets for this category A game are now on general sale from the East Stand ticket office. |
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