With the “Chelsea hoodoo” of us not having beaten Chelsea for 27 games, rammed down our necks at every opportunity by the media and us having to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit, we arrived at White Hart Lane with our usual optimism but at the back of our minds feared what might be.
However, with Steffen Iversen pouncing on a John Terry mistake in just the second minute, the Lane was bouncing and continued to bounce all night as we well and truly buried the Chelsea hoodoo with a stunning performance and 5-1 victory to progress to the League Cup Final at the Millenium Stadium.
A stunning strike from Tim Sherwood, a half volley from Anderton’s corner, put Spurs ahead on aggregate, and Teddy Sheringham’s volley early in the second half put us 3-0 up on the night and 4-2 on agg. Still, those who’ve loyally followed the Lilywhites for years would have still had that nagging doubt at the back of our minds.
However, on 55 minutes, Chelsea were reduced to 10 men when Hasselbaink was dismissed – we waved him off from the Shelf, laughing as we knew it was a case of mistaken identity given it was Melchiot who’d raised his hands into Teddy’s face. At was at this point we started to believe this would be our night after all.
15 minutes from time, Simon Davies who had earlier gone close from a similar position, beat Cudicini at his near post after being set up by the outstanding Anderton, 4-0 to Spurs and we were on our way to…Cardiff.
But why stop there, Rebrov on as a substitute for Iversen, rounded off a triumphant night four minutes from time by tucking home the fifth. The Yid Army were in dream land.
The only blip on the night was Forsell’s consolation for Chelsea in the closing moments.
A wonderful glory night at the Lane under lights, the old place bounced from start to finish as the 36,100 crowd celebrated long and hard.
