Tottenham On This Day: League Cup Semi-Final Disappointment For Spurs
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham took a one goal lead into the 2nd leg of the 1976 League Cup semi-final tie at Newcastle. Goals at the start of each half ended Spurs Cup dreams.
Tottenham on this Day
Newcastle v Tottenham 1976 LC s/f [Photo: Logan Holmes]21st January, 1976
Newcastle United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1 (League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg)
Scorer: McAllister
Team: Jennings; Naylor, McAllister; Pratt, Young, Osgood (Jones); Coates, Perryman, Chivers, Duncan, Neighbour
Tottenham had narrowly avoided relegation in the previous season under Terry Neill who had replaced Nicholson. In the 1975-76 season Spurs had shown improved form although they were in the lower half of the 1st Division table but a good run in the League Cup had taken them into the Semi-Final were they were drawn against Newcastle United who were in mid-table.
En route to the semi-final Spurs had defeated Watford, Crewe Alexandra, West Ham after a replay at Upton Park and Doncaster Rovers when they scored seven at White Hart Lane.
Having won the first leg at White Hart Lane 1 – 0, thanks to a goal from John Pratt and a superb performance from Pat Jennings, Spurs were facing a difficult task at St. James’ Park where they had drawn 2 – 2 in the league the previous October.
The Cup run ended in disappointment as Spurs lost 3 – 1 and so missed out on an opportunity of another appearance in a Wembley Final and to add to their previous two League Cup successes.
An early goal for Newcastle after only 3 minutes of the 2nd leg wiped out Spurs slender advantage and brought the tie level on aggregate. It was an equally poor start to the second half as Newcastle scored after 46 minutes and increased their advantage in the 55th minute. Don McAllister scored Spurs’ goal in the second game with half an hour to play but it was not enough as Newcastle progressed to the Final, winning 3 – 2 on aggregate.