Oxford United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Zamora 2 Keane)

Ignore the scoreline if that's at all possible. This game didn't prove that Tottenham will win the league
or that Oxford will win the 3rd Division. The main thing it proved that Hoddle had enough respect for his
hosts to play a spine of Premiership players, Perry, Poyet, Anderton, Etherington, and Zamora. It was these
players that won the Londoners the fixture.
 The U's surprised many by starting in a 4 4 2 line up, with Hackett and Alsop up front. Zamora on "debut"
looked like a man with a point to prove and the first action saw the former Seagull head weakly over. Spurs
took at little time to settle but once Anderton found his feet and began to spray accurate long passes,
Tottenham took control of the game. Etherington was frightening the U's defence with his pace and since
McNiven was covering Zamora this threat was still more real. The U's quickly switched to 5 3 2 with McNiven at centre half and Whitehead at wing back, but Etherington still managed to whip in a shot that
whistled just wide.
Etherington then turned provider as he put Zamora through but young keeper Cox was able to get down to
block the shot.
On 14 minutes the U's defence only weakly cleared a corner. Jackson thundered in a shot from just outside
the box that Bound cleared from his own goal line.
It therefore came as no shock when Tottenham took the lead. On 20 minutes an incisive Poyet pass found
Etherington who played a diagonal ball behind McNiven.
Zamora stole round the back to slot past Cox from the left of the box.
United were showing plenty of resolve and a Hackett surge beat Jackson all ends up. He should have gone
for goal but being ever the winger he squared towards Alsop but the pass was in front of the big forward.
Whitehead then pushed forward and Alsop headed his long cross to the back post back across the goal but
just wide.
Tottenham soon got back into their stride and a Blondel exocet from just outside the box stung Cox's
hands, when the keeper was obviously unsighted. Zamora then beat the offside trap to find Poyet who blazed
over from just inside the box.
In the dying moments of the half Spurs doubled their lead. Etherington beat McNiven completely for pace and
Cox fumbled his low cross and Zamora was able to bundle the ball home.
Tottenham started the second half with arguably a stronger side. Keane replaced Zamora and Carr, Hughes.
A Brown cross zipped off Alsop's head with the big man in a good position to score. Soon after Alsop was
pointlessly bundled over by a rather paranoid Taricco, on the edge of the box. Bound's kick was charged down but Referee Bennett ordered a retake despite lengthy protests lead by Poyet. The outcome was an anticlimax, Brown lifting the ball over the bar.
Hunt then emulated Jackson in the first half by having a thumping shot well saved from 20 yards, before Brown
who was looking impressive fired an Alsop head back over.
Spurs looked always capable of launching a dangerous attack and Anderton's pass found Carr who in turn
found Keane who's snap shot was blocked by Cox.
Crazy legs Townsley then replaced Hunt when a few would have wondered why the less effective Widdrington did not give way.
Either way, Townsley's first action was to watch Tottenham score their winner. Carr found Keane 20
yards out in the centre and before anyone had realised that the Irishman had come short, he'd smashed an
unstoppable drive into the top left hand corner.
United continued to seek salvation via Alsop's head but the big man looked too slow to worry Chris Perry,
and so the form of attack was altered dramatically to the teenage dash of Dexter Blackstock who showed in a
few minutes that he could have a rosy future. Basham came on and showed some good touches but this was not an afternoon for Oxford's forwards.
Spurs continued to create chances as the clock ran out. A Galbraith cross was met by Carr at the back
post but his sliding shot squirted just wide. Bound's poor clearance fell to Keane who unselfishly passed
square to Yeates whose shot was well saved by Cox.
Robinson then intercepted to prevent Keane being put right through but by this time the home fans were
celebrating Jamie Brooks' return to the Kassam Stadium pitch.
Some things are more important than mere football.