A drop of Vintage Claret sees off Spurs

It was set up as a special evening with all the nostalgic talk of games past between the two sides and the presence of two former players of both clubs in Ralph Coates and Mitchell Thomas. Ralph admitted before the game to leaning towards the Clarets whilst Mitchell was clearly wearing a Burnley top.

It was a night when we could take time away from the recent pressures of the league following three successive defeats although it didn’t look as though that would be the case in the early stages as Spurs looked by far the better side.

Mark McGregor had been chosen to start in the centre of defence alongside Arthur and with Branchy back in at left-back it was the same back four as had taken a hammering at Blundell Park just eight days earlier. Stan in a surprising move left out both Ian Moore, my choice of best player at Preston, and Glen Little

Although Spurs hadn’t created much in the way of chances it came as no real surprise when they went in front and it was a trademark Gus Poyet goal as he came in late on a corner to head home powerfully although he was completely unchallenged.

The crowd had been quiet during the first part of the game and this goal completely silenced three sides of the ground as many feared another drubbing but Stan decided to change things. Off came McGregor with Davis moving into the centre of defence and on came Glen Little to give us some more attacking options.

Stan is no afraid to make changes. Some don’t work for him but others do, this one was to work in no uncertain terms. It took time but in the last ten minutes of the half we started to come into it with Glen playing a major role ably assisted by Robbie Blake and Paul Weller but we were still a goal down at half time, and we could have no complaints.

Ralph made his half time appearance and was warmly greeted by all four sides of the ground, a real star from the past for the supporters of both clubs. Whilst he was on making the half time draw the players were getting their half time cup of tea but what on earth does Stan put into it?

We came out for the second half and immediately set about Spurs and the Premiership high flyers simply had no answer. This was Stan’s Burnley at their irresistible best as the game turned on its head. Glen and Robbie Blake were both turning it on and it was brilliant to see the Clarets make a Premiership side struggle and struggle they did as we put them under enormous pressure.

The equaliser finally and deservedly came. It may have come from Spurs giving the ball away, it may also have been via a deflection but it still needed some great football from Burnley and Robbie Blake and suddenly Turf Moor was as noisy as it has been all season.

Just about everyone held their breath as Robbie Keane missed a chance immediately after the equaliser but before we could debate that we were in front with a goal similar to Tottenham’s earlier in the game. This time it was Davis meeting a Little corner and Spurs knew they had a battle on.

It was almost three shortly afterwards after a superb piece of skill from Robbie Blake but his effort cannoned off the post and Glenn Hoddle and Spurs were just about still in it. Keane did miss another chance but it was all Burnley and the Premiership boys didn’t have an answer and they could do no more than look to Dermot Gallagher for inspiration.

The third goal wouldn’t come though and there was to be one last scare as Keane rattled the bar with a superb stoppage time effort that Marlon could well have got a hand to. Almost immediately Tottenham’s twelfth man Dermot Gallagher blew the final whistle and the celebrating started.

I take back any compliments I paid Gallagher, here was a referee who couldn’t see past the Premiership team and it did seem at times as if we were taking on twelve men but even he couldn’t stop us tonight.

Much has been said of the clashes between Burnley and Spurs from days gone by but when they are talked about again this win will without doubt be added to them. It was the night when there was so much passion both on and off the field, just one of those special Turf Moor nights.

Man of the Match tonight – just take your pick, there were heroes everywhere you looked but it really is difficult to see past the skills of Robbie Blake and Glen Little. But to choose one would be unfair.

So we can now look forward to the draw on Saturday as the Clarets move into the 4^th round. Blakey and Blakey said after the match that they would like to go to Old Trafford but Stan was leaning towards another home draw. You can take your pick but whoever it is and wherever it is matters not just now – for now we can revel in a night of pure Vintage Claret.

Come on you Clarets.

The teams were:

Burnley: Marlon Beresford, Dean West, Mark McGregor (Glen Little 26), Arthur Gnohere, Graham Branch, Paul Weller, Steve Davis, Tony Grant, Lee Briscoe (Paul Cook 90), Robbie Blake, Gareth Taylor. Subs not used: Alan Moore, Ian Moore.

Spurs: Kasey Keller, Stephen Carr, Chris Perry, Anthony Gardner, Goran Bunjevcevic, Matthew Etherington (Darren Anderton 60), Stephen Clemence, Gus Poyet, Simon Davies, Steffan Iversen (Gary Doherty 81), Les Ferdinand (Robbie Keane 45). Subs not used: Lars Hirschfeld, Milenko Acemovic.

Referee: Dermot Gallagher (somewhere close to White Hart Lane).