Tottenham's Etihad thrashing brings back memories of Bramall Lane rout
Sunday's mauling at the hands of Manchester City made gruesome
viewing for Spurs fans - but at least it was a rare experience.
Tottenham's last 6-0 defeat in the league took place over 20 years ago,
in a very different footballing landscape. In March 1993, at the
business end of the Premier League's
inaugural season, mid-table Spurs travelled to Bramall Lane for a
midweek match seeking a sixth straight league victory. Led by an
unorthodox management team of first-team coach Doug Livermore, assistant
coach Ray Clemence – who were themselves overseen by chief executive
Terry Venables – Spurs named a strong starting XI to take on relegation
threatened Sheffield United.
Teddy Sheringham started alone up front, with Darren Anderton, Paul Allen and Vinny Samways supporting him in midfield. A settled back four featuring captain Gary Mabbutt, Dean Austin, Jason Cundy and Pat van den Hauwe looked solid enough on paper. Spurs' Moroccan midfielder Nayim was one of only two players on the field from outside the British Isles. The other, the Norwegian goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt, endured a torrid evening as the Blades unexpectedly sliced Spurs apart. Franz Carr opened the scoring for United on 13 minutes, turning a short corner into the roof of the net, but much like on Sunday it was an own-goal from a midfielder that began Spurs' collapse.
After 20 minutes Andy Gray inadvertently headed a Brian Deane cross past Thorstvedt and 10 minutes later Sheffield United were out of sight. Two goals from the Scottish midfielder Ian Bryson meant a bewildered Spurs were four goals down after half an hour. In the second half Deane and Paul Rogers completed a shocking night for Livermore and Clemence. Tottenham never regained momentum after their Bramall Lane ordeal but still finished eighth – six places above the Blades and with a goal difference of minus six. Both sides progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup later that season - and both came out on the losing side of local derbies, as Arsenal met Sheffield Wednesday in the final.
Spurs did win at Highbury on the last day of the season but it was not enough to save their unusual managerial team. The irascible Spurs chairman, Alan Sugar, stopped uncharacteristically short of firing Clemence and Livermore, instead installing Ossie Ardiles above them in June. Livermore went on to assist another famous failed partnership, working under Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier at Liverpool. Clemence briefly managed at Barnet, before spending 15 years in the England coaching set-up. Sheffield United survived for only one further season in the Premier League - in fact, Spurs have faced the Blades only four times in the league since that fateful game. Sadly for André Villas-Boas and the supporters watching through their hands today, the Tottenham of 2013 have little chance of getting rid of their tormentors so easily.
Teddy Sheringham started alone up front, with Darren Anderton, Paul Allen and Vinny Samways supporting him in midfield. A settled back four featuring captain Gary Mabbutt, Dean Austin, Jason Cundy and Pat van den Hauwe looked solid enough on paper. Spurs' Moroccan midfielder Nayim was one of only two players on the field from outside the British Isles. The other, the Norwegian goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt, endured a torrid evening as the Blades unexpectedly sliced Spurs apart. Franz Carr opened the scoring for United on 13 minutes, turning a short corner into the roof of the net, but much like on Sunday it was an own-goal from a midfielder that began Spurs' collapse.
After 20 minutes Andy Gray inadvertently headed a Brian Deane cross past Thorstvedt and 10 minutes later Sheffield United were out of sight. Two goals from the Scottish midfielder Ian Bryson meant a bewildered Spurs were four goals down after half an hour. In the second half Deane and Paul Rogers completed a shocking night for Livermore and Clemence. Tottenham never regained momentum after their Bramall Lane ordeal but still finished eighth – six places above the Blades and with a goal difference of minus six. Both sides progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup later that season - and both came out on the losing side of local derbies, as Arsenal met Sheffield Wednesday in the final.
Spurs did win at Highbury on the last day of the season but it was not enough to save their unusual managerial team. The irascible Spurs chairman, Alan Sugar, stopped uncharacteristically short of firing Clemence and Livermore, instead installing Ossie Ardiles above them in June. Livermore went on to assist another famous failed partnership, working under Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier at Liverpool. Clemence briefly managed at Barnet, before spending 15 years in the England coaching set-up. Sheffield United survived for only one further season in the Premier League - in fact, Spurs have faced the Blades only four times in the league since that fateful game. Sadly for André Villas-Boas and the supporters watching through their hands today, the Tottenham of 2013 have little chance of getting rid of their tormentors so easily.
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