Tottenham Hotspur on this Day - 29th November 1997

 

Tottenham Hotspur on this Day - 29th November

29th November 1997

 

Everton 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Premiership)

Scorers: Vega, Ginola

 

Christian Gross had arrived at White Hart Lane during the month to replace Gerry Francis. Alan Sugar made the surprise appointment by bringing Gross from Switzerland where he was highly regarded as manager of Grasshopper. Outside of central Europe, he was little known and was universally referred to as ‘Christian Who?’

 

Gross arrives at Tottenham with his tube ticket

He arrived for his press interview at the club brandishing a tube ticket after making his way from Heathrow on the London Underground. The press picked up on this and he was frequently ridiculed as he endured a very difficult period at the club.

 

After waiting for a work visa, the Sunday Times reporting that Chris Hughton had been in charge for the home defeat by Crystal Palace the previous Monday, Gross' Tottenham managerial career started against Everton at Goodison Park.

 

Colin Calderwood and Allen Nielsen provided a solid central defensive midfield. David Ginola, expected by many to be omitted from the new manager’s first selection, scored a decisive second goal and gave a man of the match performance as Christian Gross won his first match as Tottenham manager.

With all the doubts concerning the appointment of an unknown manager, Spurs almost went behind in the opening 40 seconds. A very early Everton corner, taken by Nicky Barmby, was nodded down by Duncan Ferguson. It took a deflection to leave Ian Walker flat-footed but with Clive Wison on the line, he was able to clear and avoid the worst possible start for Gross.

 

The match continued in a fast and furious way with little footballing finesse or composure. Barmby chipped a chance onto the bar while Ferguson missed a gift of an opportunity. Spurs shared possession and chances but none of any quality and needed to improve in the second half.

 

After the break, John Scales replaced the injured Sol Campbell. Spurs were the better team with Ginola and Andy Sinton forcing Southall into saves and Ramon Vega missed a great opportunity from a corner. He atoned for that miss in the 72nd minute - following a short free-kick, Sinton put a cross into the box where Ruel Fox backed headed it for Vega to score with a simple header at the back post.

 

David Ginola secures Tottenham's victory at Everton with a scintillating goal

Four minutes later, Spurs added a second. Ginola who had been playing in a free role alongside Les Ferdinand, received the ball near halfway, beat his man all ends up, cut in from the left and beat Southall at his near post with a scintillating shot into the roof of the net.

 

Job done - the perfect start for Christian Gross but it wasn’t so perfect a week later. The win over Everton would turn out to be one of the few highlights of Gross’ time at Tottenham which rather ironically would end with a 1-0 win at Goodison, less than ten months later.

 

Team: Walker; Carr, Wilson; Calderwood, Vega, Campbell (Scales); Fox, Nielsen (Anderton), Sinton, Ferdinand (Iversen), Ginola

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