Bradford City v Spurs – Match Reports

This game was almost a replica of that at Valley Parade earlier in the season, with Spurs having lots of chances and failing to convert most of them.  The first half was the worst with a plethora of opportunities being passed up and kept out by on loan keeper, Aidan Davison.  Perry, Carr, Armstrong, Ginola, Anderton, Leonhardsen and Campbell all had openings of differing difficulty, but were unable to get the ball over the line.  The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Ginola was scythed down by Halle and Anderton floated a free-kick to the far post where Iversen rose highest to head back across the keeper and into the net.  Spurs had the best of the first half, but Saunders got away from our defence, beating the offside trap and rounded Walker, but couldn’t get the ball in – just fading it across the face of the goal.  However, Spurs failed to learn from this lesson and three minutes before the break, Jamie Lawrence ran through the Spurs defence, which melted away in front of him and scored with a weak low shot from the edge of the box.  It was a shocker of a goal to concede, with Tottenham having more men back than Bradford had forward, but they were not getting stuck into the man on the ball.

The second half was different because McCall dropped back in front of the back four and Spurs’ attacks foundered on the defensive strategy employed by Jewell.  The best chance of the half came when Whalley found himself in front of goal, about six yards out, but his shot was partially blocked by Sol and went straight at Walker, who safely gathered.  Spurs did still press, but there was a lack of conviction and lack of ideas in breaking down the Bradford rear-guard.  Steffen Iversen had a late drive go narrowly wide and Luke Young was further away with an attempt in injury time at the end of the match.  Ginola had a shot easily saved by Davison and he faded from the game after getting the rough end of some decisions by the ref.

Another disappointing performance and one which will cost Spurs dearly as the ever diminishing hope of a UEFA Cup place slips even further out of reach.  Tottenham’s crossing was appalling today and although they created a high number of goal-scoring chances, the final ball was too often poorly executed.  Their keeper had a stormer of a match and the failure to kill off teams (Bradford could have been buried after 20 minutes realistically) means that a decent striker needs to come in.  Even the returning Les couldn’t inspire a goal towards the end.  So, unlikely to get a decent striker, it appears that the Ginger Heavyweight – Hartson – is likely to be the next entrant at White Hart Lane.  Despondency hangs heavy over my head tonight.  It’s going to be a long run in to the end of the season.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : – STEPHEN CARR

Teams : 
Tottenham Hotspur –  Ian Walker, Stephen Carr, Chris Perry, Sol Campbell, Mauricio Taricco (Luke Young 77), Oyvind Leonhardsen (Les Ferdinand 73), Steffen Freund, Darren Anderton, David Ginola, Steffen Iversen, Chris Armstrong.
Subs not used :  –
Bradford City – Aidan Davison, Gunnar Halle  , David Wetherall, Andy O’Brien, Wayne Jacobs , Stuart McCall, Gareth Whalley (John Dreyer 77), Peter Beagrie, Jamie Lawrence, Dean Saunders (Jorge Cadete 80), Dean Windass.
Subs not used :  –
Ref. : –  Peter Jones
Attendance : –  35,472

Pete Stachio

Bradford City  1     Tottenham Hotspur  1 –  Sunday 12th September 1999
Goal-scorers:
Bradford – McCall 92
Tottenham – Perry 76  
Weather : Warm & Dry  

Bradford is not a particularly attractive city and I would not recommend visiting on a Sunday even if Sky cameras are in town. The Valley Parade ground is built on a hill and with a massive stand at one end seems strangely unbalanced. The trip was reminiscent of trips to Barnsley and like Barnsley, Bradford will go straight back down. They have even signed Neil Redfearn just to make sure. They are a poor side with a Nationwide setup, but they did not know when they were beaten and unfortunately Spurs did not know how to beat them! Tottenham dominated the game for 90 minutes.

The first half started with a flurry of Tottenham corners and Spurs continued to attack with only the occasional let up for 45 minutes. Leonhardsen had an outstanding first half until he was in sight of goal, then he panicked and smashed two easy chances over the bar. Ferdinand and Iversen were guilty of delaying attempts on goal and allowed Bradford defenders to get tackles in. Ginola had an excellent effort well saved by Walsh but should have had further efforts as he clearly had the beating of City’s defence. When he was fouled on the edge of the area we contrived to mess up one free kick after another. Come on George let’s do some work on these in training. Freund received his customary yellow card early in the game and must become the target of spread betting enthusiasts. He is guaranteed a card, the only question is how soon?  

Half Time  0-0 (Incredibly)  

The second half was more of the same . Constant Spurs pressure. Wave on wave of attacks. Taricco ventured forward and had an excellent effort well saved by Walsh. Leonhardsen missed another and Ginola had the odd shot which flew high or wide. Eventually Spurs best player on the day Chris Perry headed in from yet another Ginola corner. Perry’s first goal for Spurs and indeed his first goal for two years! Armstrong came off the bench for Ferdinand. Chris proved he has lost none of his striking prowess as he burst through and shot wide.

With two minutes of the four added on by the referee Bradford scored. A corner saw Wetherall rise unchallenged by a casual Armstrong at the far post. The ball was headed back across the goal to an area by the near post which Spurs had amazingly left Stuart McCall to occupy by himself. He stooped headed in an equaliser and Valley Parade went crazy. They might as well enjoy it because they won’t get many points this year. So Spurs surrendered two points through their own inability to put away chances after dominating. It is vital that we get Campbell/Scales/Vega back as soon as possible because as good as Perry is, he is receiving little help from Luke Young who is beginning to look out of his depth. Spurs also failed to hold on to a one goal lead.

Come on George sort it out.  

MEHSTG TOP MAN – CHRIS PERRY

Teams : Bradford City –  Gary Walsh, Gunnar Halle, David Wetherall, Andy O’Brien, Wayne Jacobs (Andy Myers 66), Dean Windass (Robbie Blake 46), Stuart McCall  , Gareth Whalley, Peter Beagrie, Dean Saunders (Bruno Rodriguez 78), Lee Mills.
Subs not used :  Clarke, Neil Redfearn  
Tottenham Hotspur –   Ian Walker, Stephen Carr, Chris Perry  , Luke Young  , Mauricio Taricco, Oyvind Leonhardsen, Steffen Freund, Tim Sherwood  , David Ginola (Allan Nielsen 90), Steffen Iversen  , Les Ferdinand (Chris Armstrong 72)
Subs not used : –  Espen Baardsen, Ruel Fox, Ledley King
Ref. : –  Alan Wilkie
Attendance : 18,143

Eric the Viking

Teams :
Spurs –   Erik Thorstvedt, Steve Sedgley, Pat van den Hauwe, Mitchell Thomas, Gary Mabbutt, Paul Allen, Paul Gascoigne, David Howells, Nayim (Paul Walsh), Paul Stewart, Gary Lineker (John Moncur)
Subs not used :
Bradford City –  .
Subs not used :
Attendance : –  25,451

Spurs were humbled by Bradford City, who ran out 1-0 winners in this FA Cup Third Round tie at Valley Parade.   A single goal for the Bantams won the match with a goal from Brian Mitchell, firing in from the right side of the box following a quickly taken free-kick in the 43rd minute.  Earlier, Greg Abbott had a good chance when the ball was won by Fairclough on the edge of the area, but it ran into the defender’s path, but he could only shoot low, but straight at Bobby Mimms.

Tottenham’s best chances came from headers.  One by Gary Mabbutt inside the first two minutes forced a diving save from the keeper and then another by Paul Stewart that glanced wide from Mitchell Thomas’ cross and then Paul Walsh, that Tomlinson saved in the second half and Paul Allen had a late shot from a short free-kick, but it went way over the bar as Tottenham’s claims for a penalty for a foul on substitute Paul Moran had only received an indirect free-kick for obstruction in the box.  In the first half, Bradford were fortunate when David Evans took down Stewart when he was past the defender and through on goal and escaped without punishment.

Chris Fairclough received a late booking when he dragged Mark Leonard back as he looked to break away near the halfway line, ripping his shorts in the process.

Teams :
Bradford City –  Paul Tomlinson, Brian Mitchell, Greg Abbott, Banks, Peter Jackson, David Evans, Palin, Lee Sinnott, Ian Ormondroyd  (Paul Jewell), Nick Kennedy (c), Mark Leonard.
Sub. not used :
Manager : – Terry Dolan
Spurs –  Bobby Mimms, Guy Butters, Chris Fairclough  , Gary Mabbutt (c), Terry Fenwick, Gudni Bergsson (Chris Hughton 46), Paul Stewart, Mitchell Thomas (Paul Moran), Paul Allen, Paul Walsh, Chris Waddle
Manager : –  Terry Venables
Attendance : –  15,917
Ref. : – George Courtney (Spennymoor)

Spurs kicked off the first half and attacked the Kop end.

Teams :
Spurs –   Pat Jennings, Joe Kinnear, Cyril Knowles, Alan Mullery, Mike England, Phil Beal, Jimmy Pearce, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Steve Perryman, Roger Morgan
Subs not used : –  Neil Johnson
Bradford City –  , .
Subs not used :
Attendance : –  36,039

Bradford City, then playing in Division Three earned a memorable draw with Tottenham in this FA Cup Third round game played out on an icy and snowy pitch.   In the first attack of the game seconds into the match, Hallett sliced a clearance straight to Jimmy Greaves, who hit the post.  Greaves hit the net soon after within the first minute capitalising on Alan Gilzean’s back-header from a long- throw to score from close range and in the ninth minute, Roger Morgan’s header from Neil Johnson’s cross gave Tottenham a 2-0 lead from just outside the six-yard box.

However, before half-time, the home side were on level terms.  Mike England got the final touch to Bobby Ham’s low cross to take it past Pat Jennings with 25 minutes gone and then in the 38th minute, Bruce Stowell became the City hero with an equaliser, firing his rising shot into the roof of the net.

In the second period Knowles cleared a John Hall shot off the goal-line with 77 minutes on the clock and City keeper Pat Liney produced a fingertip save to deny Roger Morgan’s powerful shot, but both sides had to prepare to do battle again at White Hart Lane in the replay.

Teams :
Bradford City –  Pat Liney, , Tommy Hallett, Colin Cooper, John Hall, John Middleton, Mike Stowell, Norman Corner, Bobby Ham, Bruce Bannister, .
Spurs –   Pat Jennings, Joe Kinnear, Cyril Knowles, Alan Mullery, Mike England, Phil Beal, Neil Johnson (Jimmy Pearce), Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Steve Perryman, Roger Morgan
Attendance : –  23,000

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Jack Hall, Vic Buckingham, Bill Whatley, Joe Meek, Albert Page, Ernie Phypers, Les Miller, Jimmy McCormick, George Hunt, Bert Ringrose, Andy Duncan
Attendance : –   6,050

NOTE : –  Ernie Phypers makes his final appearance for Tottenham.

Teams :
Spurs –  Jack Hall, Ralph Ward, Bill Whatley, Les Howe, Jimmy Blyth, Joe Meek, Frank Grice, Willie Evans, Jimmy McCormick, Johnny Morrison, Willie Hall
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –  16,653

Teams :
Spurs –  Percy Hooper, Fred Channell, Vic Buckingham, Les Howe, Arthur Rowe, Ernie Phypers, Willie Evans, Fred Sargent, Johnny Morrison, Sam Bell, Andy Duncan
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –   28,518

Teams :
Spurs –  Allan Taylor, Fred Channell, Bill Whatley, Les Howe, Arthur Rowe, Wally Alsford, Tom Evans, Willie Evans, Jimmy McCormick, Doug Hunt, Willie Hall
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –   14,359

Teams :
Spurs –  Joe Nicholls, Bill Felton, Bill Whatley, Arthur Rowe, Tom Meads, Tom Evans, Willie Evans, Jimmy McCormick, George Hunt, Jimmy Brain, Joe Allen
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –   33,235

NOTE : –  Joe Allen makes his only appearance in a Lilywhite shirt.

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Joe Nicholls, Bill Felton, Bill Whatley, Davie Colquhoun, Les Howe, Arthur Rowe, Tom Meads, Willie Evans, George Hunt, Eugene O’Callaghan, George Greenfield
Attendance : –    18,351

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Allan Taylor, Bill Felton, Cecil Poynton, Arthur Rowe, Tom Meads, Tom Evans, Willie Evans, Willie Davies, George Hunt, Jimmy Brain, George Greenfield
Attendance : –    12,740

Teams :
Spurs –  Allan Taylor, Bert Lyons, Bert Hodgkinson, Davie Colquhoun, Arthur Rowe, Wally Alsford, Willie Evans, Willie Davies, George Hunt, Jimmy Brain, Eugene O’Callaghan
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –   26,622

Teams :
Spurs –  Cyril Spiers, Bert Lyons, Bert Hodgkinson, Alf Messer, Tom Meads, Wally Alsford, Jimmy Smailes, Willie Davies, Ted Harper, Eugene O’Callaghan, George Cook
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –    32,976

NOTE : – Jimmy Smailes makes his Tottenham debut.

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Cyril Spiers, Bert Lyons, Bert Hodgkinson, Harry Skitt, Tommy Cable, Tom Meads, Willie Davies, Ted Harper, Eugene O’Callaghan, Walter Bellamy, Jimmy Smy
Attendance : –   13,710

NOTE : – Jimmy Smy plays his last game for Spurs.

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Cyril Spiers, Matt Forster, Cecil Poynton, Harry Skitt, Tommy Cable, Tom Meads, Willie Davies, Dick Rowley, Frank Osborne, Walter Bellamy, George Cook
Attendance : –  16,642

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Bill Jacques, Matt Forster, Bob MacDonald, Harry Lowe, Arthur Grimsdell, Bert Smith, Jimmy Dimmock, Charlie Wilson, Jimmy Banks, Andy Thompson, Jimmy Seed
Attendance : –   25,000

Teams :
Bradford City –  .
Spurs –  Bill Jacques, Bob MacDonald, Harry Lowe, Arthur Grimsdell, Bert Smith, Jimmy Dimmock, Fanny Walden, Jimmy Cantrell, Jimmy Seed, Bert Bliss
Attendance : –   24,483

Teams :
Spurs –  Alex Hunter, Tommy Clay, Bob MacDonald, Bert Smith, Charlie Walters, Arthur Grimsdell, Jimmy Banks, Alex Lindsay, Charlie Wilson, Bert Bliss, Jimmy Dimmock
Bradford City –  .
Attendance : –   30,000

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  Alex Hunter, Tommy Clay, Bob McDonald, Harry Lowe, Charlie Walters, Jimmy Skinner, Jimmy Cantrell, Charlie Wilson, Jimmy Banks, Andy Thompson, Jimmy Seed
Attendance : –   15,000

Tottenham eased through this FA Cup Second Round tie against Bradford City with Jimmy Seed grabbing a hat trick.

Seed put Tottenham in front with their first attack of the match just after half-time.  Taking the ball off defender McIlvanny, Jimmy quickly shot past the keeper Ewart.  Within thirty second of the re-start, the Spurs inside right added his second, picking up a loose ball and darting between two defenders, his shot was out of the goalie’s reach.  Jimmy Banks scored Spurs’ third goal and Seed completed his treble with a twenty-five yard shot that bulged the net after being set up by Cantrell.

Teams :
Spurs –   Bill Jacques, Tommy Clay, Bob McDonald, Charlie Walters, Arthur Grimsdell, Bert Smith, Jimmy Dimmock, Jimmy Seed, Jimmy Cantrell, Bert Bliss
Bradford City –  Ewart, , , McIlvenny, , , , , , ,
Attendance : –  39,048

Teams : 
Spurs –  Bill Jacques, Tommy Clay, John Pearson, Findlay Weir, Bobby Steel, Ed Lightfoot, Fanny Walden, Harry Sparrow, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss, Bert Bliss
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   12,000

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  Bill Jacques, Tommy Clay, John Pearson, Bobby Steel, Arthur Grimsdell, Fanny Walden, Jimmy Fleming, Harry Sparrow, Jimmy Banks, Bert Middlemiss, Bert Bliss
Attendance : –   10,000

NOTE : – John Pearson makes his Spurs debut.

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  John Joyce, Tommy Clay, Bill Cartwright, Findlay Weir, Bobby Steel, Arthur Grimsdell, Fanny Walden, Jimmy Cantrell, Jimmy Banks, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss
Attendance : –   18,000

Teams :
Spurs –  Arthur King, Tom Collins, Fred Webster, Findlay Weir, Bobby Steel, Arthur Grimsdell, Fanny Walden, Jimmy Cantrell, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss, Bert Bliss
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   30,000

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  John Tate, Tom Collins, Fred Webster, Findlay Weir, Charlie Rance, Jack Curtis, Arthur Grimsdell, Jimmy Cantrell, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss, Bert Bliss
Attendance : –   10,000

NOTE : –  Jack Curtis plays for Tottenham for the last time.

Teams :
Spurs –  John Joyce, Tom Collins, Fred Webster, Findlay Weir, Charlie Rance, Bobby Steel, Arthur Grimsdell, Walter Tattersall, Jimmy Cantrell, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   20,000

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  Tommy Lunn, Charlie Brittan, Tom Collins, Arthur Grimsdell, Ed Lightfoot, Jabez Darnell, Walter Tattersall, Billy Minter, Bert Bliss, Tom Mason, Bert Middlemiss
Attendance : –   8,000

NOTE : – Tom Mason makes his last appearance for Tottenham.

Teams : 
Spurs –  Tommy Lunn, Charlie Brittan, Tom Collins, Charlie Rance, Bobby Steel, Danny Steel, Jabez Darnell, John McTavish, Billy Minter, Ernie Newman, Bert Middlemiss
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   30,000

Teams : 
Spurs –  Tommy Lunn, Tom Collins, Fred Wilkes, Ted Birnie, Charlie Rance, Bobby Steel, Jabez Darnell, Jack Curtis, Percy Humphreys, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss.
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   30,000

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  Tommy Lunn, Ernie Coquet, Tom Collins, Frank Bentley, Danny Steel, Jabez Darnell, Jack Curtis, Billy Minter, Ivor Brown, Bert Middlemiss, Bob McTavish
Attendance : –   10,000

Teams : 
Spurs – John Joyce, Bert Elkin, Ernie Coquet, Frank Bentley, Alex Steel, Danny Steel, Bobby Steel, Jack Curtis, Billy Minter, Ivor Brown, Bert Middlemiss
Bradford City –
Attendance : –   22,000

NOTE : – Alex Steel’s only Spurs appearance alongside his brothers Danny and Bobby.

Teams :
Bradford City –
Spurs –  Fred Boreham, Ernie Coquet, Fred Wilkes, Tom Morris, Danny Steel, Bobby Steel, Jabez Darnell, Jack Curtis, Walter Tull, Billy Minter, Bert Middlemiss
Attendance : –  25,000