"It was Twenty Years ago today!"
article published February, 2018, but first written in 1998 by the late Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Leicester City

Premier        Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            2   1   0   1    2 - 2    3
Away            3   0   1   2    2 - 7    1
===========================================
Total (Prem)    5   1   1   3    4 - 9    4
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)   29  13   6  10    64-46   34
Away (Div 1)   29  16   4   9    53-54   40
===========================================
Total (Div 1)  58  29  10  19   117-100  74
===========================================
Football League
Home (Div 2)    7   3   3   1    12- 7    9
Away (Div 2)    7   4   1   2    14-13    9
===========================================
Total (Div 2)  14   7   4   3    26-20   18
===========================================
Total (Prem)    5   1   1   3    4 - 9    4
Total (Div 1)  58  29  10  19   117-100  74
Total (Div 2)  14   7   4   3    26- 20  18
===========================================
Grand Total    77  37  15  25   147-129  96
===========================================

Over the years in which I have followed Tottenham, this fixture is one that Tottenham usually lose. We have seen that demonstrated all too frequently in those seasons where we have played Leicester. I think we have to go right back to season 1986-87 to find the last occasion where we won a home game. (Ed:- Actually we won 1-0 in March 1995 thanks to a goal from Jurgen Klinsmann)Even in the '60s when Spurs were playing at their peak, Leicester always seemed to put one over us.

Last season, of course, the game was a televised one. Emile Heskey was a nuisance and played a considerable part in our 2-1 defeat. Leicester were thus showing early signs of the organisation that led them to qualify for Europe when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Hillsborough after a 1-1 draw at Wembley in the Fizzy Cup Final.

Much of Leicester's success in recent years has been down to the motivation provided by their restless Irish manager, Martin O'Neill. He is seldom more than a few feet away from the touchline, literally kicking every ball, sometimes pushing the patience of the fourth match official to its limits for his refusal to stay within recognised bounds for coaching. I'm surprised that O'Neill has not signed a player's contract so that at least he could then have an excuse to roam up and down the touchline by pretending to be warming up as a substitute! :-)

I've often watched O'Neill being interviewed after a match, noting with interest the sweat pouring off him. Some managers wise-crack their way through an interview but O'Neill always has an intense look about him and you can see how much energy he expends when you see him celebrating a Leicester goal. I sometimes wonder whether O'Neill will one day suffer from a heart attack, such is the intensity of his involvement in the match.

Tottenham need to build on the foundations laid by the 3-0 win at Blackburn. For the first time since before Christmas, we are out of the bottom three. A second win will put daylight between us and Crystal Palace, who are involved in the Cup this weekend. Points in the bag are better than games in hand, something thoroughly demonstrated last season by Middlesbrough.

Our long list of injuries shows no sign of relenting. Chris Armstrong, however, returned to the side last Saturday, scoring a goal in the process. However, he acknowledges he is far from match fit and would prefer to play in the reserves and sit on the bench but he may be denied that this weekend with Ferdinand, Klinsmann and Iversen all out injured and Fenn out on loan with Leyton Orient. I fancy Armstrong will start the game and play for an hour or so.

It will be interesting to see how Wilson is replaced if, as expected, he is not fit to play on Saturday. It is believed that Christian Gross does not wish to retain Justin Edinburgh since he has only figured in one team since Gross was appointed. The options are limited. Clapham is on loan and Dean Austin is not match fit. We cannot afford to have any defensive liabilities on Saturday because of the huge presence of Heskey. Neither is Saturday an occasion to experiment with Clemence as an emergency wingback since Sinton is also unavailable.

I would pack the midfield and play Armstrong as a lone striker for at least an hour. Then, when he tires, I'd take him off, replace him with another midfield player and push Ginola up front.

I don't care how drab and dull the game is on Saturday so long as we win the match. The time to worry about flair, passion and elan will be the day we know we can kick-off with our place assured for the 1998-99 Premiership fixtures. WE *MUST* MAKE SURE CRYSTAL PALACE, BOLTON AND BARNSLEY STAY BELOW US!

Come on you Spurs!

Cheers, Brian

· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

Follow @spursodyssey