Spurs 0-0 Fulham

Boxing Day.  I had been feeling quite excited on the drive up, rolling around a Hilaire Belloc line in my mind (via Australian writer Gideon Haigh’s essay about Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist): “Whatever happens, we have got/ Hangeland, and you have not”.  I liked this, but on arrival at White Hart Lane I realised that I was very wrong: we did not have Hangeland.  Panic.  I had just put £5 on a 0-0 draw, taking advantage of silly 9-1 odds.  (Had they not been paying attention?  Fulham 9-1 for a 0-0 away from home?)  I texted someone who might know: “Where’s Hangeland?” “Sold to Chelsea” “Not really, flu unfortunately” “! You evil man.”

Chris Baird stood in, which, if nothing else, would test the strength of Roy’s system:  if we could keep a clean sheet at Spurs without Brede Hangeland then we must surely be on the right track. Adding to the intrigue, Jimmy Bullard was injured in the first half, and replaced by Dickson Etuhu.  These two players – our best two players – are the subjects of much transfer speculation at the moment, so the remainder of the game would be a sneak preview of what life without them might be like.

It wasn’t too bad.  Chris Baird, Hangeland’s replacement, had something of a stormer, charging down what seemed like a dozen shots, making some important tackles, and only once caught being clumsy.  Well played, Chris Baird.  Aaron Hughes beside him had an equally combative afternoon, and the pair of them can be proud of a fine backs to the wall performance.

The middle of the park was more of an issue, as Bullard’s removal did leave a bit of a hole.  In some ways it worked to our advantage, as Etuhu’s heft was useful in repelling the second half onslaught, but if we’d managed to keep the ball for more than 20 seconds at a time (we didn’t) this onslaught may not have materialised in the first place.  The stage was set for Simon Davies to take charge in there, but alas, it was not really his day.  On the other flank Dempsey had a thunderous first half, testing Gomes with an acrobatic scissors kick, but he could not swim against the current in the second half; it really was tense stuff.

But as the minutes ticked on and the pressure mounted Fulham could – and perhaps should – have won the game. Andy Johnson was set free by Davies, but failed in his attempt to round Gomes, and the chance was lost.  (Johnson has been spurned three one-on-one chances in the last couple of games).  It was a difficult game for he and Zamora, but again they worked hard and battled for the team.  We must appreciate this, but we must also hope that both can be a bit deadlier in the new year.

There are no such issues at the back, where Mark Schwarzer made one of the saves of the season early on, flipping a close range shot from Aaron Lennon wide when a goal seemed almost certain.  He really is a player.  As is this season’s most unheralded defender, Paul Konchesky, who had a terrific game against the chainsaw pace of Lennon.  Lennon and Corluka were dynamic down the Spurs right, and Konchesky had to be at his best to keep them out.  One tackle, throwing himself at Lennon’s feet inside the penalty area, was massively difficult and even more dangerous, but perfectly executed.  Well done him, too.

And so a cold, cold game finished 0-0.  I collected £50 from the Mansion Bookmaker’s window, at once delighted to have won some money and disappointed not to have had the courage of my convictions and stuck the whole £10 down in the first place.  But that is greedy thinking, and I must be happy with my winnings, just as the team must be happy with their point.   At the moment it really does feel as if we could hold Brazil to a 0-0 draw at the Maracana if given the opportunity.  The absence of goals may not thrill our away supporters, but those points are mounting up.