On 5th January, 1991 Spurs started on the Road to Wembley byt twenty years earlier out in a League Cup semi-final to a rather bizarre goal following a mistake by a Spurs legend..
5th Janary, 1991
Blackpool 0 Spurs 1 (FA Cup 3rd Round)
This was a game made for a Cup shock. Played in very stormy conditions, Spurs who were having an indifferent season needed to show determination and character. This they did and managed to overcome the weather and Blackpool with a goal from Paul Stewart who began his career at Blackpool.
Spurs, inspired by Paul Gascoigne, then set off on an amazing series of results which took them to Wembley and success against Nottingham Forest. This was achieved against a background of financial problems threatening the Club’s very existence and leading to the eventual take-over by Alan Sugar and manager Terry Venables.
Team: Thorstvedt, Fenwick, Edinburgh, Samways, Howells, Mabbutt, Stewart (Bergsson), Gascoigne, Moran, Lineker, Allen. Sub: (unused) Garland.
5th January, 1971
Spurs 2 Chelsea 2 (League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg)
Spurs, the League Cup holders, were a goal down from the first leg played before Christmas but were confident of overturning the deficit. With five minutes remaining Spurs were 2-1 ahead through goals from Martin Chivers and a Martin Peters penalty. The score was 3-3 on aggregate and the game looked to be heading for extra time.
Chelsea were awarded a free- kick out on the touch line and there was no imminent danger. The kick was fired in low but Cyril Knowles had it covered on the near post and could clear it to safety but for some unknown reason he seemed to change his mind over which foot to use to clear the ball and missed it, leaving Jennings unsighted and the goal to take Chelsea to the Wembley Final.
