TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 CITY 3
League Division 1
3rd February 1979
attendance 32,037
scorers Kidd(30 pen), Barnes(40), Channon(75)
ref L Burden
City Corrigan, Donachie, Power, Owen, Watson, P Futcher, Channon, Bell, Kidd, Hartford, Barnes – sub Deyna(45)
Spurs Kendall, McAllister, Holmes, Hoddle, Lacy, Perryman, Galvin, Ardiles, Armstrong, Beavon, Taylor – sub Pratt(unused)
FROM ‘CLASSIC MATCH’ PUBLISHED IN THE CITY MAGAZINE JULY 2009
With a trip to White Hart Lane next on the agenda, things looked as though they might get worse before they got better. Colin Bell returned to the team for only his second appearance of the season and was employed in a new sweeper role for a game selected for lTV’s The Big Match.
Spurs had their own problems, having failed to win any of their previous six league matches, so something had to give. It was clear the first goal was going to lift a huge weight off one team’s shoulders and Spurs looked the Iikelier to break the deadlock. Steve Perryman burst from defence into the Blues’ half and found himself with just Joe Corrigan to beat after Osvaldo Ardlles’ chip was directed into his path, but he showed a defender’s touch when he nudged the ball just enough for Corrigan to smother the opportunity.
Soon after the hosts had a penalty claim turned down and within seconds City broke down the other end to take the lead. Peter Barnes was looking at his very best and when Gary Owen instinctively played the ball into his path, Perryman clipped Barnes’ heels and the referee had no option but to award City a penalty. Brian Kidd stepped up to drive the ball past Mark Kendal and give the Blues a priceless lead.
There was worse to follow for Spurs when Barnes, in electric form, skipped past three challenges before hammering a left-foot drive past Kendal to make it 2-0 before the break. Suddenly, City were oozing confidence and appeared to have rediscovered their early season form. Peter Taylor volleyed over from close range before the break and an injury to Dave Watson meant the England defender was substituted at half-time. Tottenham began the second half brightly but each time Corrigan thwarted their efforts and eventually City regained control. The goal of the game came on 75 minutes when Owen fed Barnes on the left, the flying winger skipped past McCallister as though he wasn’t there, ghosted past another defender before picking out Mick Channon who made no mistake from close range. The linesman confused matters by attracting the referee’s attention and it seemed the goal may be ruled out, but it was merely to ensure McCallister was booked for trying to impede Barnes in the build-up to the goal.
As thousands drifted out of White Hart Lane, City comfortably played out the final moments to claim a fine victory.
TONY BOOK’S MANAGER NOTES FROM THE CITY PROGRAMME 10TH FEBRUARY 1979
It’s a long time since victory has tasted so sweetly as it did at White Hart Lane last weekend, and while a 3-0 success over Spurs is not the signal for us to be acclaiming the complete formula has been found to our recent problems it has provided a pick-me-up which everyone on the Maine Road staff was in need of. lt ended the most dismal run I can ever recall the Blues suffering , a string of 13 League games, dating back to mid-October, without a win.
It was Malcolm Allison’s sixth game in charge of the coaching last Saturday and he felt it had just been long enough to analyse team performances and decide on a new approach. The priority was, of course, to stop giving away goals in the manner we did against Chelsea, and Shrewsbury in the F.A. Cup, in the previous two weeks.
That meant giving individuals total responsibility in defence as man-for-man markers and bringing back the security of a “sweeper”, the type of defensive system we operated rewardingly in our season of consolidation in the First Division in 1966-67, following promotion.
Colin Bell was the obvious choice for the sweeping role, tidying up all the loose ends at the back. l am sure it is a duty he can perform with great distinction. His experience is invaluable and he is a good talker to his team-mates, which is essential since he’s the man who can see everything going on in the defence ahead of him and can give guidance on what is required. It’s also a role where he will not be needed to make the heavy demands upon his legs like in the old days, and this will prevent any undue aggravation to that critical injury he recieved which kept him out of the game for over two years.
Colin is a good organiser, which all ‘sweepers’ have got to be to do the job properly. It only works, too, if the other defenders recognise their responsibilities in picking up an opponent when attacks are mounted, but after a little bit of teething trouble at Spurs it appeared that everyone acknowledged the importance of following instructions.
I know plenty about the ‘sweeper’ role. Malcolm selected me for it when he was at City previously as coach and it paid off. I enjoyed the job and the responsibility and while our re-entry to the First Division was not spectacular we did not leave great margins for error. It enabled us to achieve results, pick up points and increase confidence in the squad. That was ’66-67, and 12 months later, with a fresher approach employed, we went out and won the First Division title.
… In Colin we also have appointed a player of great class and intelligence, an accurate passer of the ball who can hit a great distance service, and the signs at Spurs augured well.
We also employed two wide men in Mike Channon and Peter Barnes. And they revelled in the space. lt’s a long time since Peter has hit such dazzling heights, but the wait was worthwhile. And Mike, who isn’t the kind to have a chip on his shoulder on the other flank.
A lot to do with the game of both players is their pace and Malcolm rightly felt that we could get a bonus from exploiting it. The object was to get the ball out wide to the flanks and let Mike and Peter embark on runs at the Spurs defence. They did so with spectacular effect.
The whole team picked itself from the floor and the atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards and on the journey home was really reminiscent of the good old days.