By MattoftheSpurs
March 30 2007

The quest for European football at White Hart Lane continues unabated with this match which sees fellow Euro hopefuls Reading visit Tottenham for the first time since the 30th of August 1931. On that day Spurs beat The Royals 7-1, a then club record score. Would a repeat be too much to ask?

Tottenham Hotspur Versus Reading. FA Premier League. 1st April 2007. White Hart Lane. Kick Off 4.00 PM Live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD 1 And so after the ‘International break’ we are back to proper football. The quest for European football at White Hart Lane continues unabated with this match which sees fellow Euro hopefuls Reading visit Tottenham for the first time since the 30th of August 1931. On that day Spurs beat The Royals 7-1, a then club record score. Would a repeat be too much to ask? Readings meteoric rise through the lower ranks has been astounding. Backed by Chairman John Madesjski’s (OBE) drive and money and by the shrewd managerial know how of manager Steve Coppell The Royals romped home with the Coca Cola Championship last year with a record points total. Many pundits had them as one of the favourites to go straight back down but Steve Coppell’s men have confounded them all. Reading currently sit in eighth position in the Premiership, one place and one point below their opponents Tottenham Hotspur on 44 points. Reading’s last ten outings have seen them win five matches (Sheffield United (H), Birmingham City (A-FA Cup), Wigan (H), Manchester City (A), and Aston Villa (H). This run of five wins has been followed by five matches without a win which includes defeats against Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Arsenal. When these clubs last met at the Madejski Stadium on the 12th of November it was Spurs who pulled the strings for the opening half an hour. Spurs went ahead through a Robbie Keane penalty on 24 minutes and at this point it appeared that all three points were heading back to London. Reading rallied, and with no small help from some appalling defending by Spurs, Reading were 2-1 up half time thanks to goals from Nickey Shorey on 38 minutes and Steve Sidwell in injury time at the end of the first half. Despite enjoying most of the possession in the second half a dispirited Tottenham could not break down the resolute home side and Kevin Doyle wrapped up the win for the home side on 79 minutes. Jemaine Defoe hit a post for Spurs late on but it was not to be. Tottenham go into Sunday’s match in good form having lost but 2 from the last ten. The last league defeat for Martin Jol’s men came away at Bramall Lane during a dismal 2-1 reverse to Sheffield United in February. Since then only Chelsea in the FA Cup have succeeded in beating Tottenham and that was after a replay. Despite having one eye on the big UEFA Cup quarter final on Thursday Tottenham can ill afford to take their foot off the gas in the. Beating Sevilla over two legs will be a tough proposition and if we want European football at the Lane next season then the league looks to be the most likely way the team can ensure that. Reading have played at the Lane on five previous occasions and have not yet won a match there. Martin Jol will be impressing the need on his players to ensure that Sunday is not the first time for that. With the exception of Ledley King and Teemu Tainio Spurs should be able to be able to pick from a full strength squad. I don’t expect Mr Jol to rotate with Thursday in mind and will be looking forward to seeing Robbie Keane extend his partnership with Dimitar Berbatov up front. Where will Lennon play, is the other question left unanswered. Personally I have not a clue? The clamour for the diminutive winger to be reinstated on the right side of the pitch after several forays on the left and down the middle continues and it will be interesting to see where Jol places him. The good news is that if Spurs supporters do not know where Lennon is starting then neither does Steve Coppell. Enjoy the game. Audere Est Facere.

 

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