Tottenham On This Day: Spurs On New Year’s Eve
By Logan Holmes
Teddy Sheringham scored as Spurs enjoyed a good end to 1994 [Photo: Logan Holmes]Tottenham on New Year’s Eve
31st December, 2011
Tottenham travelled to Swansea for their first Premier League game in Wales and took a point in a1 – 1 draw. A Swansea equaliser six minutes from time denied Spurs the opportunity to end 2011 with a win and move to within four points of Manchester United with a game in hand. Rafael Van der Vaart had given Spurs the lead just before half-time but in the end a draw was a fair result.
31st December, 2005
Spurs were at home to Newcastle United and had a comfortable victory with the goals being scored by Timmu Tainio and Mido. Tainio put Spurs ahead two minutes before the interval and Mido’s goal on 66 minutes secured the points. This is the game where Michael Owen was injured in an early clash with Paul Robinson which threatened his availability for England in the World Cup finals.
31st December, 1994
Gerry Francis had taken over from the sacked Ossie Ardiles in mid-November and following defeat in his first match against aston Villa, Spurs were now on an undefeated run extending to seven games. Spurs made it 8 with a resounding 4 – 0 win at Coventry City through goals from Nicky Barmby, Darren Anderton, Teddy Sheringham and an own goal. The run was extended until the end of January when they lost at Aston Vila. Next up was Arsenal at the Lane with the only goal of the game scored by Gigu Popescu.
Biggest Won on New Year’s Eve
31st December, 1921
Tottenham Hotspur 5 Preston North End 0
Spurs’ best finish to a year came against Preston in 1921, against whom, in that era, there had been a number of important clashes.Spurs had beaten Preston in the previous season’s F.A.Cup semi-final and they were also to meet at the same stage of the competition later in that season, although the result was to be reversed.
For this League game Spurs proved superior in all areas and won through goals from Jimmy Seed, Charlie Wilson (2), Andy Thompson and Jimmy Dimmock. At the end of the season Spurs finished second, the highest position achieved to date by a London club.Such a victory also ensured a very happy New Year for Spurs supporters.