Finally, the football season is back! After numerous tedious Saturday’s spent working or just watching time go by, it’s great to be back watching the lads. There was a great buzz around the ground before the game and after the events of last season it’s hardly surprising that we weren’t expecting to witness a drubbing from Spurs. If we’ve learnt anything from Keane’s short time as our manager it’s that we won’t lie down and surrender.
The game started quite slowly, which was to be expected with it being the opening game of the season, with both teams trying to find their feet again. Despite this somewhat subdued start there were still glimpses of pace and class from both sides. Spurs showed their class moving the ball quickly forward from deep free kicks and could have made their quick thinking count if the lads weren’t on their toes and thoroughly aware of the threat posed to them. Though we weren’t to be outclassed and with some quality one-two movements spread the ball from right-to-left both quickly and quite easily, winning a corner from the good play. As with most of the set pieces from the lads today, the corner came to nothing and the short corner technique is something which will hopefully be eradicated or used more rarely than it was today.
Daryl Murphy should have put the lads ahead after Wallace’s cross was missed by Spurs defender Anthony Gardner, unfortunately Murphy’s touch had too much on it and enabled Robinson to get out and smother his shot. Spurs themselves had a very good opportunity to go into the lead. After a ball over the top found Berbatov, who coolly flicked the ball over the oncoming Craig Gordon, it looked like he was about to make it 0-1, thankfully though Dean Whitehead was on hand to take care of the danger.
First half: stalemate
The second half started with more pace than the first had, though there still weren’t many clear cut opportunities for either side which came as a bit of a surprise as the referee was doing his upmost to give Spurs free-kicks for things which could hardly be described as fouls. But that is to be expected in the Premier League, as most officials are biased in favour of the bigger clubs. Both teams had their dominance of possession, though neither team looked very threatening. In the whole of the match Craig Gordon had to make two saves, which were both rather comfortable to make. His opposite number, Paul Robinson, had to make one good save from Dickson Etuhu’s thigh after a floated free-kick from Ross Wallace.
Entering the final ten minutes of the match and we were beginning to look the stronger and hungrier team. It felt as though the team had suddenly believed they could win the game and fought harder for every loose ball. With time ticking away I was feeling very happy with a point from one of the stronger teams the league has to offer. Though that was about to change, after a good one-two between Chopra and Whitehead, the ball made it’s way to Ross Wallace down the right wing. After twisting one way and then the other, Wallace whipped in a delightful ball with his right foot which was taken fantastically by debutant Michael Chopra. Time seemed to slow down for a moment or two, only to be met with ecstasy as Chopra coolly slotted the ball past Robinson.
Three points on the board and we can now look forward to Birmingham midweek.
MOTM – Paul McShane, who was fantastic today for the lads and seems to have the attitude, which Roy Keane consistently speaks of. I’m sure his hair style will be catching on around Wearside as well.