CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Tottenham v Newcastle 07/09/96 3.00

Tottenham               (1) 1 Newcastle               (1) 2 FT
Allen 28                      Ferdinand 37,61

Les Ferdinand's double-strike gave Newcastle the perfect send off for their UEFA Cup test and took the shine off Rory Allen's goalscoring full debut for Spurs.

The 18-year-old Allen, partnering Chris Armstrong in the absence of Teddy Sheringham, tucked home Andy Sinton's cross to give Tottenham the reward their early domination deserved.

But after Ferdinand had swivelled from a seated position to force the ball through Sol Campbell's legs and over the line before the break, it was Kevin Keegan's men who always looked the more likely winners.

And while Spurs had enough chances of their own it was Ferdinand who made the crucial strike for his third in two games.

Again Spurs' defensive susceptibility was exposed as Rob Lee and Alan Shearer opened up their left flank, and when Lee crossed Ferdinand was given far too much space as he thrashed the ball past Ian Walker.

Tottenham did not give up and the Newcastle defence was creaking at times, with substitute Ronny Rosenthal missing a sitter.

But the Magpies held on for the best of boosts ahead of Tuesday's showdown with Swedish side Halmstads with only Walker denying Peter Beardsley and Lee Clark at the death.

At the start the pre-game talk of a Tottenham injury crisis looked overblown as Armstrong, Darren Anderton and Danish midfielder Allan Nielsen all appeared on the team sheet.

With Nielsen buzzing on his home debut and Armstrong giving them an outlet up front, Newcastle seemed more disconcerted by the absence of David Batty.

Clark made his first start of the season but Spurs were in vibrant mood, Anderton was a whisker away from 25 yards and then Nielsen headed narrowly over the bar.

So it was no surprise when Tottenham went ahead in the 28th minute. David Ginola's crossfield ball to nobody in particular gave Andy Sinton possession, and the Geordie burst down the left.

His cross fell beyond Armstrong, but perfectly for Allen and the teenager's left-footer from eight yards gave Pavel Srnicek no chance.

Keegan came out of his dug-out to read the riot act to Steve Watson, but help was at hand from Armstrong eight minutes before the break.

Another misdirected crossfield pass allowed Elliott to feed Ginola, and with Ferdinand bearing down Ian Walker bravely parried his cross.

Walker did even better to save from Shearer, but Ferdinand despite his unlikely posture was able to force the ball past three defenders and over the line.

Chances continued to arrive at both ends. Only Campbell's long legs prevented Shearer netting from Beardsley's superb ball, and after Armstrong had outpaced the Newcastle back line, Nielsen shot dismally over the bar when left in acres of space.

Ferdinand was equally culpable after being set up by Shearer just after the restart, and with Newcastle now forcing the pace Shearer fizzed a free-kick just over.

But the second had to come, and duly did just after the hour, although Tottenham's shocking defending contributed almost as much as Ferdinand's thumping finish.

Nielsen was then denied by a smart Srnicek save as Spurs belatedly found their second wind and the action was maintained at both ends.

Shearer was narrowly off-target, Armstrong a fraction high and after Ruel Fox and Ronny Rosenthal replaced Anderton and Allen, Armstrong saw another effort deflected over and Srnicek foiled Nielsen once more.

It kept on happening. Walker turned Beardsley's effort onto the bar after he had danced through and right at the death Rosenthal blazed over with the goal gaping.

But it was not enough for Spurs and while they never gave up, two points from three home games represents a dreadful White Hart Lane start. The Newcastle bandwagon, however, is firmly back on the rails.