Ref plays for Sevilla

Once again I am left bemoaning the refereeing at a Spurs game as another pleb trying to make a name for himself stamped his authority on the game with a string of appalling decisions culminating in a lousy penalty decision that could cost us the tie.

We started well and took the lead within 68 seconds, Berbatov laying the ball through for Keane. His first shot was saved but Keane was able to finish it off for a dream start. For the next 15 minutes we plassed the ball around nicely and Sevilla had some possesion but did nothing with it. The ref then felt he should step in to help Sevilla out by awarding a penalty. Adriano burst into the box but Robbo got two hands on the ball. You could see immediatly that the ball changed direction - almost 180 degress but the ref felt it was a penalty. Kanoute stepped up to make it 1-1.

It was soon 2-1 and we were rocking a bit but improved second half. To be in with a chance two or three players need to run up next week as Jenas and Lennon were both annoymous for much of the game.

2-1 is not a disastrous result as we have a very important away goal and they won't like playing at WHL where we are generally better. Rumor has it a certain Ledley King will be fit.

All to play for, as long as the ref is not bent.

COYS!

Sevilla Vs Spurs

This is the biggest game of the season against one of the best, if not the best team, in the UEFA cup. These are the type of games we should be involved in every season and it is great to see us hit some form in the league that is pushing us back into the European places.

These is going to be a tough game and we will need to play to our stregths - attacking with pace using the width to our advantage. Gardner is still out and Rocha is cup tied so that leaves us with one fully fit centre half in Michael Dawson. It is expected Chimbonda will start alongside him in the back four although King has travelled. I doubt he will play. Chimbomnda has played in that position before but he will need to be at his best to keep Kanoute and co quiet. All the talk has been about Kanoute but his goal scoring exploits have mainly come in the league - he has not been banging them in, as the press would have you believe, in the UEFA cup. However we all know he can be brilliant when he wants to be so Dawson will have a big job in controlling the back four. If Chimbonda starts at centre back Stalteri will play right back with Lee at left back. Although a makeshift back four the same three plus King last season was the fourth meanest defence in the Premiership - ok, a lot of that is to do with King but Lee is having his best season for us and Stalteri has played many times in the Champions League.

The midfield should pick itself with Lennon right, Malbranque left and Zokora and Jenas in the middle. I felt JJ was a bit deep against Reading so I hope to see more runs forward from him leaving Zokora to protect the back four. Up front will be Berbatov and probably Robbie Keane.

Defeat here is not the end of our UEFA cup campaign as we get them back to White Hart Lane next week but obviously we want to avoid it. The perfect result will be to make our run 9 wins on the bounce in the UEFA cup and extend our own British record of most wins in a row in European competition.

I came across this YouTube video, via FTL, to remind you of some other good times in Europe.



COYS!!!!

Spurs win five on bounce plus goals

Spurs beat Reading today thanks to a Robbie Keane penalty five minutes or so before half time. See the handball and goal below.

Quicktime required.

Goals

COYS!