George Graham for Tottenham 26th September,1998 Know Your Tottenham History
By Logan Holmes
Sol Campbell in better times, scored Spurs’ late equaliser
The background to this Premier League game between Tottenham and Leeds United was speculation that George Graham would be leaving the Yorkshire club to take over as manager at White Hart Lane. Tottenham had been managerless since the beginning of September after the sacking of Christian Gross who had a disastrous ten months with the club. David Pleat had once again stepped into the breach as Caretaker manager and this was his fourth match in charge. He had immediate success with a home win over Blackburn Rovers but had followed it with a three goal home defeat to Middlesbrough and a draw at Southampton.
26th September, 1998
Tottenham Hotspur 3 Leeds United 3
Scorers: Vega, Iversen, Campbell Halle, Hasselbaink, Wijnhard
George Graham manager of Leeds and soon Tottenham
Due to the speculation that the Leeds’ manager, George Graham, was about to be appointed as the next Tottenham manager, demonstrations by both sets of fans towards George Graham had been anticipated but never really materialised, despite the odd jibe. Leeds United took an early lead after four minutes as Halle headed home from a corner. Ramon Vega equalised ten minutes later with a header from a Darren Anderton corner. With thirty minutes remaining Leeds had created a two goal advantage – Hasselbaink scoring after 26 minutes and Wijnhard on the hour.
Spurs started to make a come back after 71 minutes when substitute Steffen Iversen pulled one back, shooting low past the goalkeeper from Carr’s cross. In a final dramatic finale with three minutes of injury time gone, Sol Campbell equalised with a close range header from Allan Nielsen’s cross. Spurs had shown commendable spirit which must have impressed their new manager in waiting, George Graham, who was duly appointed during the week.
David Pleat Spurs’ Caretaker manager
Commenting on the prospect of Graham compared to Pleat at Spurs, the Daily Express reporter wrote:
"‘Graham already looks and talks the part of the Tottenham manager. Compare his suave sophistication on the White Hart Lane touchline with the eccentric appearance of David Pleat, who looked as if he had been dragged from the river-bank clutching a fishing rod minutes before kick-off.’"
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