|
Spurs on a Joli
This was though after a first half in which Clarets probably had the better of the chances in a surprisingly even contest and one superb save from Grant by Engerland's No 1 Robinson, kept the Premiership's side lead intact at the interval as Clarets created four-five good openings in the half, something for Spurs new boss to ponder as they headed south.
The starting line up surprised a few homesters. There was no McGreal for the first time this season and no Sinclair, adding to the ever increasingly list of current absentees now numbering some seven who would normally start in a Cotterill line up given a chance.
With Duff back after suspension, his partner on the night was eighteen year old debutant Cahill and the pairing who met only twenty four hours earlier did themselves proud against a Spurs pairing of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe.
The magic lantern rolled after an impeccable minute’s silence following the sad death of Emlyn Hughes and it was Clarets who created the first chance when the impressive Duffy brought out a good save from Robinson following good work on the wing by Blake.
In the early stages, Clarets were patient, organised and unruffled by their illustrious visitors and Blake was unlucky to see his shot on the turn go wide of Robinson's left upright after a superb piece of footwork on the edge of the box created the opening.
Spurs who were controlled in their approach play had to wait until twenty minutes before their first shot at goal arrived and this only after Keane took a divot when scuffing his shot.
The lively Ziegler showed good skill and pace when leaving Duffy in his wake, but an early shot failed to trouble Jensen, though the balance of play was swinging the way of the visitors by the half way mark.
An impeccable Duff was in quickly on Keane to deny the striker a shot as Spurs looked to gain the advantage, yet Clarets had a chance to take the lead on the half hour mark, when after neat interplay between Sanokho and Blake, Duffy sent Robinson scrabbling across his line with a glanced header that drifted just wide of the left post.
Having switched wings, Ziegler was involved in the opening goal and gaining the advantage by moving inside an exposed Camara, his cross into the box was swept home from close range by Keane before opting for his embarrassing goal celebration with the opening goal, the cartwheel and smoking gun routine doing little to enamour him to home fans.
Kelly was robbed by Jensen moments later as Spurs looked dangerous before Branch limped off the field to be replaced by a nearly fit again Valois forced into action by the acute nature of the depleted squad list.
Clarets best chance of the game came with half time approaching. A trade mark run and cross by Camara caused problems for the Spurs defence and Grant was on hand to sweep the ball goal wards from inside the area.
Instinctively, Robinson made a great save to his left, palming the ball away at full stretch for a corner from which he was again called into action to clear the danger as Spurs made it to the break one goal to the good - a score line most Clarets would have settled for when hearing the pre-match team news.
HT 0-1 and the draw was made by the twin domes of Jeff Brown and Ralph Coates which was well received by both sets of supporters.
Clarets began the second half brightly yet fell further behind on fifty two minutes. A ricochet between Duffy and Ziegler in front of the Spurs dugout fell kindly for the pacy Spurs player and after skipping Duff's lunge in front of the home dugout he raced into box before laying off a cross which Keane converted and celebrated as his first, Jensen unable to block the close range effort.
King did well to block Duffy's attempt and then from distance Defoe put the tie well and truly beyond Clarets. Picking the ball up some thirty yards from goal there seemed little danger, but he advanced slightly and unleashed a swerving, dipping shot that powered past an unexpecting Jensen on its way to the top corner for the goal of the game.
Davies replaced Mendes and rubbing salt into Clarets wounds, Keane was replaced by Kanoute who almost scored with his first touch but Jensen was able to parry away the fierce shot from the sub.
Duffy recovered extremely well to deny Ziegler injuring himself in the process before Valois almost seized upon a ricochet in the six yard box off Kelly following a Blake free kick as Clarets tried vainly to retrieve something from the game.
With time drifting away and the game becoming something of a non-event, Pamarot was replaced by Ifil as Spurs sought to impress by retaining the ball and keeping Clarets at arms length.
Duff looking injured needed nothing more than a new boot before an injured (again) Valois was replaced by youngster Pilkington getting ten minutes to gain more experience.
The chance of the half fell to the Clarets and Duffy, after getting the luck of a rebound on the edge of the area found himself face to face with Robinson, but like a rabbit in headlights, his surprise resulted in a half-hit shot and Engerland's Engerland's No 1 had little difficulty with the tame effort before Mr Poll brought his first match at the Turf to an end on what had been a decent performance yet a flat evening for the home fans as Spurs advanced into the last eight.
Att:- 10,639
Sour grapes
13,512 watched Clarets beat Spurs two years ago in this very same competition, yet then in round three, not four. Both games were televised and both games were played midweek. Answers on a postcard as to why three thousand preferred to stay away this time around.
A fine Claret
Michael Duff. Organised the defensive line superbly and did not put a foot wrong, or miss a header all night against very talented opposition.
The starting line up surprised a few homesters. There was no McGreal for the first time this season and no Sinclair, adding to the ever increasingly list of current absentees now numbering some seven who would normally start in a Cotterill line up given a chance.
With Duff back after suspension, his partner on the night was eighteen year old debutant Cahill and the pairing who met only twenty four hours earlier did themselves proud against a Spurs pairing of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe.
The magic lantern rolled after an impeccable minute’s silence following the sad death of Emlyn Hughes and it was Clarets who created the first chance when the impressive Duffy brought out a good save from Robinson following good work on the wing by Blake.
In the early stages, Clarets were patient, organised and unruffled by their illustrious visitors and Blake was unlucky to see his shot on the turn go wide of Robinson's left upright after a superb piece of footwork on the edge of the box created the opening.
Spurs who were controlled in their approach play had to wait until twenty minutes before their first shot at goal arrived and this only after Keane took a divot when scuffing his shot.
The lively Ziegler showed good skill and pace when leaving Duffy in his wake, but an early shot failed to trouble Jensen, though the balance of play was swinging the way of the visitors by the half way mark.
An impeccable Duff was in quickly on Keane to deny the striker a shot as Spurs looked to gain the advantage, yet Clarets had a chance to take the lead on the half hour mark, when after neat interplay between Sanokho and Blake, Duffy sent Robinson scrabbling across his line with a glanced header that drifted just wide of the left post.
Having switched wings, Ziegler was involved in the opening goal and gaining the advantage by moving inside an exposed Camara, his cross into the box was swept home from close range by Keane before opting for his embarrassing goal celebration with the opening goal, the cartwheel and smoking gun routine doing little to enamour him to home fans.
Kelly was robbed by Jensen moments later as Spurs looked dangerous before Branch limped off the field to be replaced by a nearly fit again Valois forced into action by the acute nature of the depleted squad list.
Clarets best chance of the game came with half time approaching. A trade mark run and cross by Camara caused problems for the Spurs defence and Grant was on hand to sweep the ball goal wards from inside the area.
Instinctively, Robinson made a great save to his left, palming the ball away at full stretch for a corner from which he was again called into action to clear the danger as Spurs made it to the break one goal to the good - a score line most Clarets would have settled for when hearing the pre-match team news.
HT 0-1 and the draw was made by the twin domes of Jeff Brown and Ralph Coates which was well received by both sets of supporters.
|
King did well to block Duffy's attempt and then from distance Defoe put the tie well and truly beyond Clarets. Picking the ball up some thirty yards from goal there seemed little danger, but he advanced slightly and unleashed a swerving, dipping shot that powered past an unexpecting Jensen on its way to the top corner for the goal of the game.
Davies replaced Mendes and rubbing salt into Clarets wounds, Keane was replaced by Kanoute who almost scored with his first touch but Jensen was able to parry away the fierce shot from the sub.
Duffy recovered extremely well to deny Ziegler injuring himself in the process before Valois almost seized upon a ricochet in the six yard box off Kelly following a Blake free kick as Clarets tried vainly to retrieve something from the game.
With time drifting away and the game becoming something of a non-event, Pamarot was replaced by Ifil as Spurs sought to impress by retaining the ball and keeping Clarets at arms length.
Duff looking injured needed nothing more than a new boot before an injured (again) Valois was replaced by youngster Pilkington getting ten minutes to gain more experience.
The chance of the half fell to the Clarets and Duffy, after getting the luck of a rebound on the edge of the area found himself face to face with Robinson, but like a rabbit in headlights, his surprise resulted in a half-hit shot and Engerland's Engerland's No 1 had little difficulty with the tame effort before Mr Poll brought his first match at the Turf to an end on what had been a decent performance yet a flat evening for the home fans as Spurs advanced into the last eight.
Att:- 10,639
Sour grapes
13,512 watched Clarets beat Spurs two years ago in this very same competition, yet then in round three, not four. Both games were televised and both games were played midweek. Answers on a postcard as to why three thousand preferred to stay away this time around.
A fine Claret
Michael Duff. Organised the defensive line superbly and did not put a foot wrong, or miss a header all night against very talented opposition.