Tottenham On This Day: West Bromwich Albion At The Lane On Boxing Day

Tottenham and West Bromwich Albion have met in the Christmas holiday fixtures on three previous occasions. Today’s match will be the second time that they have played at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day.

Len Duquemin [Photo: Logan Holmes]On this Day

Boxing Day 26th December, 1955

Tottenham Hotspur 4 West Bromwich Albion 1

Scorers: Norman, Brooks (pen), Duquemin (2)

Team: Reynolds; Norman, Hopkins; Blanchflower, Clarke, Marchi; Dulin, Brooks, Duquemin, Smith, Robb

On Christmas Eve Spurs had defeated Luton Town at White Hart Lane, their first win in four games.They still remained in the relegation zone having taken only 15 points from 22 games. West Brom were 6 points better off in 14th place in the 1st Division.

Buoyed by the success over Luton, Spurs carried on from where they’d left off and had a remarkably comfortable win over Albion. A goal from Maurice Norman set Spurs on the road to victory. Len Duquemin scored a ‘double’ and Johnny Brooks added a penalty.

The following day the clubs met at the Hawthorns for the return game – 3 matches in 4 days. Albion gained revenge, winning with the only goal of the game.

Spurs finished the season in 18th place, two points above the relegation places.

Other Christmas Fixtures

1963-64

Tottenham drew 4 – 4 at Albion on Boxing Day but lost 2 – 0 in the return game at home two days later. The Spurs goals were scored by Cliff Jones, Bobby Smith and Jimmy Greaves (2).

Greaves put Spurs ahead after 3 minutes. Albion missed a penalty and then Bobby Smith made it two for Spurs. Albion pulled a goal back but Cliff Jones restored Spurs advantage. Albion replied again to make it 3 – 2 at half-time. Greaves added a fourth but Albion wouldn’t give up and scored twice to take a deserved point.

1966-67

Spurs took only 1 point from the two holiday games against Albion. They lost 3 – 0 at the Hawthorns on Boxing Day and were held to a scoreless draw at home the following day.