FRIENDLY MATCH ( SIMON MORGAN TESTIMONIAL)

FULHAM     0     TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR     0

Referee:- Graham Poll

Attendance:- 12,928

Teams:- (Simon Morgan unable to play through injury)

Fulham (4-3-1-2):- Taylor:- Finnan, Melville, Coleman(Capt.), Brevett; Davis
(sub Lewis, 46), Clark (sub Fernandez, 75), Collins; Goldbaek; Betsy, Boa
Morte

Subs not used:- Symons, Collins, Trollope, Hayward, Peschisolido, Hammond?

Spurs (4-4-2):- Sullivan; Carr, Perry, Campbell (Capt.), Thatcher (sub
Taricco, 72); Anderton, Sherwood (sub Etherington, 53), Clemence,
Leonhardsen (sub Armstrong, 72); Ferdinand (sub Iversen, 46), Rebrov

Subs not used:- Walker, Young, Vega. (Note that Steffen Freund did warm up
with the team, but changed before the match proper)

No bookings.

    It was after all, a Fulham celebration, and Spurs had been invited to
grace the party. Simon Morgan, whose testimonial match it was, limped around
for various ceremonies, and kicked-off the game (before being "sent-off" by
Graham Poll) having to sit out the show, as he did when the two teams last
met in December last year. Once again, Fulham dominated proceedings, but
this time they failed (unluckily) to score, hitting the woodwork twice, as
Sullivan was the busier of the two keepers, and had to make several sharp
saves.

    Spurs, without Ginola, were as effective as Wise without Morecambe, or
Hardy without Laurel, and particularly in the second half played with very
little width. (In listee Bruce Lewis's words - "less width than Naomi
Campbell" - Thanks Bruce!). Anderton visited the right flank occasionally,
and Leonhardsen similarly assisted Thatcher on the left, but in truth, both
played more towards the middle. The absence of Freund from the line-up, and
the resulting lack of bite in the middle, gave plenty of opportunities to
the free-running Bjarne Goldbaek, who did play on the right in front of his
midfield, and was very exciting to watch too, hitting a number of shots of
the type displayed in Chelsea's colours and reminiscent of his goal at White
Hart lane 18 months ago.

    John Collins looked sharp too, and he and Lee Clark posed many problems
for our defence who struggled to restrain the pace of Betsy and Boa Morte.
On this form, Fulham will be a force in the Nationwide this season.

    Spurs arrived without George Graham, leaving Houston in charge, assisted
by Chris Hughton. I did hear a rumour that Graham was in Holland with Mr
Pleat, but as the latter was seen sauntering around the pitch shortly before
kick-off, it would seem that such hope can be discounted. The fans were
therefore somewhat restrained in their comments, but Ginola's name was aired
many times.

    Spurs, as they did last Saturday, showed some flair in the first half,
but only in patches this time. After 10 minutes a good build up from Carr,
Ferdinand, Rebrov, and Anderton led to a good chance for a headed goal for
Leonhardsen, beating an offside appeal. Leo should have scored, but instead
tried to set up Ferdinand, but Taylor was easily able to intercept. Fulham
responded with the first of Goldbaek's power-drives.

    Rebrov was one again impressing new viewers with his energy, turning up
left, right and centre of the park. He was tipped over on the left with a
foul that would ordinarily have earnt a booking, but Poll was suitably
lenient. From the free kick Sergei tried an overhead kick, which was blocked
at source. A corner followed and Sol Campbell had a shot tipped over the
bar. Ferdinand disappointed; Sherwood passed short, and Spurs faded.
Anderton covered a lot of ground, and was our most impressive player
tonight.

    Towards the end of the half, Boa Morte forced a Sullivan save at the
near post with a shot from close range, and Collins hit a rocket-like shot
which kept low, and which Sullivan held after two efforts.

    Iversen replaced Les at half time, and he and Rebrov would be favourites
to start the season proper in my book. There was plenty of work for Sullivan
as he got down to a Lee Clark shot, after good play by substitute Lewis, and
Boa Morte. Goldbaek was then allowed to run through the defence from half
way, but fired over.

    Steffen Iversen nearly scored with a lovely lob, very similar to the
semi-final winner at Selhurst Park last year, but that was almost Spurs only
effort in the second half, apart from an Anderton 20 yarder, which Taylor
pushed over. When Armstrong came on, Rebrov was pulled back to midfield, and
this is not where he should be!

    The Fulham crowd became justifiably excited when Betsy turned Campbell
and Thatcher, but the "goal" that followed his centre was offside. Even
Etherington, when he came on for Sherwood, seemed to play from inside to
out. referee Poll dictated the substitution as Sherwood had clattered
Goldbaek, and it seemed that if he had not been subbed, he would have been
carded.

    Betsy hit the underside of the bar, with the defence beaten, and a Boa
Morte shot hit the bottom of the post from a sharp angle, after Sullivan had
made an excellent save from Betsy. I believe that Fulham have found Betsy in
non-league football, and on this showing he is going to keep Riedle, Hayles
and Peschisolido on the sidelines.

    It was a pleasure to meet listee John Stanley after the game, and I
asked him to summarise what was good about the game from the Spurs point of
view. This was tough question, but we are agreed that Sullivan looked solid,
and that at least we haven't conceded a goal so far pre-season, although
only by a whisker tonight.

    Personally, I hope for far better performances in the remaining
pre-season games in England, at QPR, and Peterborough.

The source of this item is :-
http://www.spursodyssey.co.uk

The home of all Paul Smith's reports.