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Sheringham has last laugh on Spurs fans
By Henry Winter and Christopher Davies | |
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Sheringham has last laugh on Spurs fans Tottenham (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 2 RARELY has a man who has just missed a penalty, been kicked painfully and played so moderately worn as satisfied a look as Teddy Sheringham did last night. As the final whistle sounded around White Hart Lane, the former Tottenham Hotspur forward strode over to salute his new supporters, those clad in the red of Manchester United, so having the last laugh on the Spurs fans who had barracked him throughout. Cries of "Judas" dogged every step Sheringham made throughout an afternoon so sultry that each sprint must have felt like a marathon. The fans' opprobrium turned to approval only when Sheringham struck a second-half penalty against a post. While he will reflect that such abuse probably provides a short cut into the affection of his own followers, United will admire the way Sheringham never hid, despite the verbal hounding, one nasty challenge from Ramon Vega and a generally poor performance personally. United possess a collective will like few other teams, their solidity and strength of purpose assisted by their relatively unchanging squad. Sheringham was their only debut-maker yesterday while Spurs welcomed three new boys. Les Ferdinand was well policed by Gary Pallister, David Ginola rolled out the tricks in the first half but then faded while Stephen Clemence, son of Ray, proved a ray of sunshine on his first-team bow. Despite defeat, Spurs can take heart from the promise of Clemence and the here-and-now excellence of Sol Campbell, probably the best player in a match watched by Glenn Hoddle, the England coach. Clemence, patrolling the left of central midfield, had clearly been assigned to cover for Ginola when the Frenchman went roving. Within 10 minutes, Ginola had forsaken his wing station and was wandering to good effect, giving Spurs a new sense of unpredictability. Clemence seemed unawed by either surroundings or opposition. Having filled out since his slightly frail England Schoolboy days, Clemence competed gamely against the likes of Nicky Butt, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes. His willingness to become involved encapsulated Spurs' first-half display, which made their later wilting so strange. There was a high level of determination about Tottenham that ensured the champions suffered a fruitless first period. Vega showed the spirit of defensive defiance with a late challenge on Sheringham, which inevitably endeared him to the majority home fans. In the absence of Andy Cole, who will be out for 10 days following an operation on an abscess, Sheringham was partnered by Jordi Cruyff but they rarely linked significantly. In truth, Sheringham contributed little but sweat to a poor, cramped opening 45 minutes. With no obvious attacking focus, United's game plan appeared centred on directing quick balls behind Spurs' defenders, a tactic that foundered on sterling showings by Campbell, Vega and Stephen Carr. United's best opportunity arrived early, a Giggs corner headed over by Keane. Spurs' strategy involved sliding long balls over United's adventurous full-backs, Phil Neville and Denis Irwin. Ginola proved particularly adept at this, though Spurs' resultant crosses were rarely of the requisite quality. And when a ball did look destined for Ferdinand, Pallister rose to the challenge. United were never truly stretched although their defence could rarely rest. Neville cleared quickly when Vega loomed while Peter Schmeichel sprinted out to catch Ginola's lofted pass ahead of Steffen Iversen. Ginola concluded the half with a dive that incensed Giggs, Neville and Keane, but brought him nothing. New half, new story. After an early scare when Ferdinand threatened, United proved the more dominant force, sweeping forward in attack after unanswered attack. A move of burgeoning promise saw the ball whipped from Irwin, to Giggs to Scholes, who played the ball in towards goal. Sheringham, running in unmarked, flicked it over when he really should have scored. Spurs were then indebted to Campbell for relieving penalty-box pressure created by Keane, who rivalled Pallister as United's best contributor, and Sheringham. On the hour, United sensed a breakthrough. In attempting to dispossess Cruyff, Justin Edinburgh handled the ball, so giving Sheringham his opportunity. But the ball thudded into a post and Sheringham, forgetting the laws, tried to follow up and was penalised for not allowing someone else to make contact first. How the Spurs' fans laughed. "Oh, Teddy, Teddy," they sang. There was soon another moment for them to savour, Clemence's little touch taking the ball away from a bemused Keane. But such pleasure-giving cameos were like sand-castles in front of a rising tide, soon confined to oblivion. United grew stronger and stronger, settling the match with two goals in 78 seconds, created by David Beckham, who had finally arrived after 65 minutes. Ferguson has been using his high-profile young midfielder sparingly, keeping to his stated intention of resting Beckham and Gary Neville after England's summer exertions in the Tournoi de France. As in the Charity Shield, Beckham was hungrily and swiftly involved, lifting the ball in to Sheringham, whose blocked shot ran through to Butt. As Spurs looked for offside, Butt focused on the job in hand, sending a strong shot past Ian Walker. Sheringham had only just finished walking back to his half with both arms aloft when United started building for their second. Beckham's flighted cross from the right appeared harmless enough, as it arrowed into Spurs' box. Vega, though, had followed Giggs, who failed to make contact, the ball diverting in off Vega's knee. The unfortunate Walker was unable to react in time. The smile began spreading on Sheringham's face. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ferguson praises 'character' ALEX FERGUSON was able to laugh off Teddy Sheringham's missed penalty on the Manchester United striker's return to Tottenham. "He did his best for his old team," said Ferguson. "When the penalty was given I turned to Brian Kidd and said 'I hope he doesn't miss this one. Next week is OK but not this one'. "When you appoint a penalty taker it is important to know how he will react if he misses. Teddy showed his character today. "He had to expect some stick. He wanted to join us and that didn't go down well with the Tottenham fans. It was a bit over-the-top but didn't compare to Paul Ince's return to West Ham." Ferguson confirmed that Sheringham, who once missed three consecutive penalties at White Hart Lane for Spurs, will continue as United's penalty taker. Sheringham admitted: "I was relieved when the goals went in. I was quite confident when I went up to take the penalty and although I sensed Ian Walker moving on the line, he told me he went the wrong way." Ferguson said the result was "the ideal start for us". He added: "In this heat the team which kept possession would be in control and we did it better than Spurs." Had Ferguson ever experienced heat like this? "It's run of the mill in our dressing room. "We had a couple of breaks when the ball deflected to Nicky Butt [for the opening goal] and then an own-goal. There's a long way to go. My players can handle the pressure but with 37 games to go I'm sweating already." Gerry Francis, the Tottenham manager, said of Sheringham's missed penalty: "When he took penalties here he's usually put them to the 'keeper's left. He thought Ian would expect that and changed his side. "There were some pluses for us with the outstanding form of Sol Campbell, and Stephen Clemence did well on his debut. "We are looking to compete on all fronts and have the players to enable the competition for places to be as great as at United. They brought David Beckham on." Earlier in the day Alan Sugar, the Tottenham chairman, delivered what appeared to be an ultimatum to Francis, saying the club must finish in the top five. Francis said: "It is something everyone at Tottenham is striving for. It took Alex four years to get United off the ground but time isn't something managers always have. I can't worry about that. It's life. Perhaps if we win the FA Cup and Coca-Cola Cup and finish sixth people will still be asking questions." _________________________________________________________________ Tottenham (0) 0 Man Utd (0) 2 Butt 82, Vega 83 og. Tottenham: Walker, Edinburgh, Howells, Nielsen, Ferdinand, Carr, Ginola, Vega, Iversen, Campbell, Clemence (Sinton 75). Subs Not Used: Calderwood, Scales, Fenn, Baardsen. Booked: Vega, Edinburgh. Man Utd: Schmeichel, Irwin, Johnsen, Pallister, Butt, Sheringham, Giggs, P. Neville, Cruyff, Keane, Scholes (Beckham 66). Subs Not Used: G. Neville, McClair, Poborsky, Van Der Gouw. Booked: Scholes, Cruyff. Att: 26,359 Ref: G Poll (Tring). _________________________________________________________________ LONDON (Aug 10, 1997 - 1997 EDT) Champions Manchester United got two goals in two minutes late in the game to defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in their English premier league season-opener on Sunday. The match appeared to be heading for a goalless draw after United's Teddy Sheringham missed a 60th minute penalty against his old club. But eight minutes from time the 3.5 million pounds ($5.6 million) England man had a shot charged down by Ramon Vega and the ball ran to an unmarked Nicky Butt who slammed it past Spurs keeper Ian Walker from six meters. Less than two minutes later it was 2-0 as Swiss international Vega deflected a harmless David Beckham cross into his own net. United deserved the points from a game short of goalmouth action, dominated by both sets of defenders. It looked to be going the champions' way after an hour when Spurs defender Justin Edinburgh handled in the box as he attempted to tackle Jordi Cruyff. Sheringham, signed from Spurs over the summer to fill the gaping boots of now retired French forward Eric Cantona, stepped up to take the spot kick but sent his shot against a post. It was the first real chance of the match -- there were only three shots on target in the first half -- despite the sparkling array of striking talent on display. Tottenham's new summer signings from Newcastle -- Frenchman David Ginola and England striker Les Ferdinand -- made their debuts for Spurs, who gave promising teenage midfielder Stephen Clemence, son of former England goalkeeper Ray, his official first team debut. Ferdinand had one of Tottenham's few chances when United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel fluffed a clearance, the ball blocked by the Tottenham man's outstretched leg and rebounding high into the air. If Ferdinand had been a fraction faster he might have beaten the tall Schmeichel to the ball but the Dane safely gathered it and the danger passed. ($ - 0.629 British Pounds) |
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