TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST, 2000
FRIENDLY FIXTURE
PETERBOROUGH UTD 1 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (0)
Peterborough Scorer:-
Oldfield, 90
Spurs scorers:-
Rebrov, 49
Sherwood, 60
Referee:- Mark Halsey
Attendance:- 8,137
Teams:-
Peterborough (4-4-2):- Tyler (Connor 75), Scott (Hooper 46), Drury (Murray
75), Shields, Rea, Edwards, Cullen (Oldfield 46), Hanlon (Cullen, back on,
75), Clarke (French 75), Green (Forinton 46), Jelleyman (Farrell 46).
No known unused subs
Spurs (4-4-2):- Walker; Carr, Perry (sub Young, 77), Campbell, Thatcher (sub
Taricco, 63); Anderton, Sherwood (sub Davies, 63), Freund, Clemence; Rebrov
(sub Armstrong, 63), Ferdinand (sub Iversen, 46)
Subs not used:- Sullivan, Doherty
Sergei Rebrov consummated his arrival with his first goal in England for
Spurs, and the team's pre-season clean sheet record disappeared in the last
seconds, as Ian Walker was caught in no-man's land when Oldfield headed home
a deep cross from the right. The home fans welcomed Simon Davies with open
arms, but no doubt regretted that fellow ex-Posh youngster, Matthew
Etherington was unable to play through injury, having suffered an ankle
injury at Dulwich last week-end.
Whilst Spurs dominated the play almost entirely (only to be expected of
course), the first half hardly featured any occasion when either goalkeeper
was troubled by a shot on target. The game warmed up in the second half,
when Iversen replaced Ferdinand, and David Farrell, who starred in the end
of season excitement for Posh, came on for Jelleyman. Farrell is a Jamie
Lawrence type character insofar as he likes to dye his hair various colours,
and his hair suitably matched that of Iversen today. It was Farrell who
first troubled Walker deep into the second half, when he had a double
chance. His first shot rebounded off a defender, and then he forced a corner
when Walker was down to save his second shot from a narrow angle.
The early action was tame except for a Rebrov head down to Anderton, who
was fouled on the edge of the box. Clemence took the free kick, which went
wide of the post. Rebrov stole the ball off a defender after 19 minutes, and
beautifully chipped the goalie, but the ball landed on top of the net. One
of the most notable incidents in the first half was when referee Mark Halsey
penalised Carr for dissent, and pushed back the Spurs wall, as a free kick
(conceded by Anderton) was advanced ten yards to the edge of the box.
Nothing came of the kick, but I noticed that Halsey was getting a fair bit
of back chat throughout the half - particularly from Sherwood, who I suspect
will have to be more careful when the season proper begins.
Towards the end of the half, Spurs held the ball well in the middle, and
created chances for Clemence (wide), and Sol Campbell, whose shot was
deflected for a corner. Spurs had played this half "the narrow way" as they
did at Fulham, but in the second half, they used more width, with Anderton
visiting the wing more often, and Carr being allowed to get forward. Taricco
seemed to be more penetrative than Thatcher when he came on. Thatcher, when
he did cross was over-hitting the ball heavily.
I think that Peterborough used all their substitutes, no doubt to give
them all experience of playing against Premiership quality. Two or three
players even came on twice, and the stats above are not necessarily
accurate! Incidentally, I think the Peterborough seats were modelled by
Munchkins, as Bruce and I needed to saw about three feet off our legs! It
makes you appreciate home, I'll tell you.
Iversen made a big difference when he came on, and in a bright start
which included some clever ball control and passing play with Rebrov, Carr
ran onto a through ball, raced to the bye line and cut the ball back for
Rebrov, who powerfully drove the ball high into the net in front of the
visiting support. Five minutes later Iversen started another good passage of
building play, which ended when Sherwood put Anderton clear. Darren hit a
super shot that bounced off the top of the bar, back into play. Then Spurs
increased their lead, on the hour, when Sherwood made an Anderton lofted
ball his own, and curled a right foot shot around the keeper.
As is usual in these games, the substitutions came thick and fast, but
the visitors seemed to lose a bit of control, as the home side were allowed
forward more often. Luke Young sprayed the ball around well, but should he
have been marking for the goal conceded? It came from his area of play, but
I wouldn't vouch for any failing on his part.
Armstrong had a good headed chance that went over the target, after Carr
and Freund won the ball on the right, and Anderton's cross was flicked on by
Iversen. Before that Oldfield goal, the home side had a decent chance when
Cullen headed wide from a free kick on the left, with Walker looking
stranded.
Sullivan is the man to start the season for me, with Iversen and Rebrov
up front. Oyvind Leonhardsen was missing tonight, and Etherington is out for
a while, as is Korsten. Where is our width going to come from? I do have to
report that there were no chants for Ginola tonight, and maybe there will
not be such a furore at the lane on 19th August.
Download the Spurs goal videos now.
Sergei Rebrov, 49 (1.33 meg)
Sherwood, 60 (1.33 meg)
These videos are sourced from the official Peterborough Utd web
site, which can be found at...
http://www.theposh.com/
The source of this item is :-
http://www.spursodyssey.co.uk
The home of all Paul Smith's reports.
|
