please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur host Coventry City at White Hart Lane on Saturday 5th January 2013 (KO 15:00) in the Third Round of the 2012-13 FA Cup. Coventry City, who are currently in Football League One (third tier) beat Arlesey Town 3-0 at home in the First Round and Morecambe 2-0 at home in the Second Round. This will be the 96th time the two clubs have met. Coventry City were founded in 1883 as Singers FC as the works team for the bicycle factory. The club changed its name to Coventry City five years later. Their first match at Highfield Road came in 1899 and they joined the Football League Division Two in 1919. The first meeting between the two clubs came in the Football League Second Division in August 1919 with Spurs winning 5-0 at Highfield Road with goals from Arthur Grimsdell, Bertie Bliss (2) and Jimmy Chipperfield (2). The revese fixture at White Hart Lane in September was won 4-1 by Tottenham, who were promoted back to the First Division at the end of the season. The clubs met again in the Second Division during the three seasons prior to World War Two with Coventry winning three games, Spurs winning two and one match drawn. A friendly was played in August 1944 and Spurs won both Football League South games during WW2. Spurs & Coventry played together in Division Two in the four seasons immeadiately after WW2 with Spurs winning 4 games, Coventry winning 2 games and 2 games drawn. Two more friendlies were played in 1964 & 1965 before Coventry City finally won promotion to the First Division for the first time for the 1967-68 season, Spurs won both matches 3-2 away and 4-2 at home. Coventry City enjoyed an unbroken run of 34 consecutive seasons in the Top Flight of English Football before being relegated at the end of the 2000-01 Premier League season. Spurs very first Premier League defeat was against Coventry on 19th August 1992 0-2 at the Lane. All told, Spurs won 29 of those encounters, Coventry won 18 and 19 matches were drawn. The clubs met for the first of five matches in the Football League Cup in the 5th Round in November 1970 with Spurs winning 4-1 at the Lane with goals from Martin Chivers (3) and Alan Gilzean. Coventry won the 3rd Round game at the Lane in September 1977 3-2. The most recent League Cup match was also the last time the two clubs have played each other when they met in September 2003 at Highfield Road in the 2nd Round with Spurs winning 3-0 with goals from Freddi Kanoute, Robbie Keane and Rohan Ricketts. The first of 4 FA Cup meetings came in the 5th Round in February 1981 at White Hart Lane with Tottenham winning 3-1 with goals from Chris Hughton, Ossie Ardiles and Steve Archibald. Spurs would go on to win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in a replayed Final. Coventry City won their only major honour in the clubs history when they beat Tottenham Hotspur in the 1987 FA Cup Final at Wembley. Clive Allen put Spurs ahead after just 2 minutes but Dave Bennet equalised for Coventry 6 minutes later. A Gary Mabbutt goal saw Spurs go in at half-time 2-1 ahead. A superb diving header from Keith Houchen in the 62nd minute forced extra time. Mabbutt scored an own goal off his knee in the 95th minute which ensured that John Sillett's men took the silverware back to Coventry after one of the truly great Wembley Finals. Spurs won the third FA Cup match in January 2002 at Highfield Road 2-0 with goal from Gus Poyet and Les Ferdinand. Tottenham have yet to play a match at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, which opened in 2005. Overall, Tottenham Hotspur have won 46 of the 95 games played with Coventry winning 27 matches and the remaining 22 games drawn. please log in to view this image Full Record of Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City Matches 1919-2013 please log in to view this image They Played for Spurs & Coventry... Alan Brazil Ivor Brown Will Buckingham Graham Carr (scout with both clubs) Jesse Carver (Spurs coach, City manager) Calum Davenport Gerry Francis (City player, Spurs manager) Márton Fülöp Randolph Galloway Terry Gibson Alan Harris (City player, Spurs asst manager) Jimmy Holmes Johnnie Jackson Bill Jacques Martin Jol (City player, Spurs manager) Robbie Keane Don McAllister Peter Murphy (also City coach) Keith Osgood Rohan Ricketts Tommy Roe Steve Sedgley Tim Sherwood John Smith Perry Suckling (City player, Spurs goalkeeping coach) Danny Thomas Dennis Uphill Charlie Wilson Terry Yorath please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2012-13 Coventry City Premier League Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2010-11 please log in to view this image
i Was lucky enough to be a Coventry's greatest humbling in 1989,when Sutton won 2-1 at ggl,in the 3rd round,only to get Hammered at Norwich in the 4th round,most of the Coventry team that day also played,when they beat us in the final 18 months earlier
I do enjoy a good old fashioned cup tie, just hope we're not part of a "giant killing". I reckon AVB will rest the majority of the first team, I can see it being: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Naughton Townsend, Parker, Hudd/ Livermore, Sig Dempsey Adebayor. Subs: Lloris/ Gomes, Dawson, Dembele, Livermore/ Hudd, Bale, Falque, Defoe Sandro, Vertonghen and Lennon have earnt a day off in my opinion, they've been (arguably) the three most consistent players in the team so a rest is fully deserved, while the likes of Hugo, Moussa, JD and Bale (if he weren't suspended for Reading I'd put him on full rest with Jan, Sandro and Azza) can be on the bench to rest initially and come on if needed. Going for 3-0 Spurs. Sig, Dempsey and Ade the scorers. COYS!
I really hope Falque gets a go in this one. Looked good in his few outings so far and I'd like to see him involved in more matches.
I really hate Coventry after that Cup Final defeat. Only joking, it should be a good game, Coventry are a decent team and will want to give it a go. I think the earlier posters are correct and AVB will field a weakened team. I can't imagine BAE is far from recovery, so would be good to see him come off the bench if he is fit to do so. I would like to see Falque play as well and I think Livermore will feature. Jan does need a rest. The last couple of games there have been occasions where he has been outmuscled. I don't think there is an issue there it happens to all defenders I just think he needs a break. Lennon has been one of our best players this season. Bale gets all the hype, but so much goes through Lennon and I think AVB really rates him. That has shown in Lennon's performances as I think 'Arry wasn't always 100% on him and that crept in to Lennon. His final ball is definitely improving as well. I reckon we have to be on for the win, although I hope its a big win, I have a feeling it could be tighter.
Yeah I wouldn't be disappointed to see him start. He ran the show vs Norwich in the Carling Cup defeat. I think a move to a Prem club on loan would be more ideal for him at the moment. He's fighting with Townsend for a squad place and I think one of them needs a loan, I say Falque as Townsend has enough experience in England (albeit not much in the Prem) and has been good in the cameos he had off the bench in the league so far where as Falque could do with more than just a cup run and 5/10 minutes every now and then in the league. I'm sure a team like Reading/ Villa could find a place in the starting XI for him, or at least offer him a good 30 mins or so each game.
Benny was Tweeting that he was ready for Reading so it was surprising that he wasn't even on the bench!! Hopefully no setback and assuming that is the case then he must feature on Saturday surely? Didn't think Sig did much wrong v Reading but playing him on the left does unbalance the side as he seems to drift in all the time and narrow the play. But looking at the squad these days it seems to have serious strength in depth - other than a playmaker and forward option of course..... More than enough to get past Coventry I would hope: 4-1 Spurs
I used to hate playing Coventry. Highfield Road was like The Dell, the big teams always crumbled there yet away from it they couldn't win for ****
apparantly,sir Les and the coaches have been working with Lennon on his crosses,now we can see the results,with the improved final ball
I wouldn't disagree too much with SoS' team, but I'd make a few minor adjustments: Friedel; Naughton, Gallas, Caulker, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Carroll; Townsend, Sigurdsson, Dempsey; Adebayor. Will Villas-Boas make big changes though or will he go all out for the win and only rotate a little?
****! Can't believe I completely left out Tommy Carroll, I'd definitely have him in over Hudd and Jake to partner Scotty. I should slap myself for forgetting him baring in mind I'm a big fan of his. As Relayer and yourself have both noted too, if Ekotto is available, I'd definitely start him and give Naughton a go at RB.
That's what I'm wondering. Most managers would field a team of half reserves or so, but AVB has put in nearly full strength sides against everyone but Carlisle, as far as I can remember. I'd start Bale, but bring in Townsend early. I'm not sure A-E should start yet. I'd also bring in Falque and either Hudd or Livermore.
Friedel; Naughton, Gallas, Caulker, Benny; Parker, Sigurdsson; Townsend, Dempsey, Falque; Adebayor. Bring on Carroll and Livermore if we're winning.
We've softened em up for you! I wouldn't underestimate them though, they are a good side on excellent form (bar losing to us, but that's understandable) and if you play too many youngsters might find them a very tough nut. They have a lot of championship standard players, although Dave McGoldrick's gone back to Forest, such as Gary McSheffery - remember him? Anyway, they're a lot better away than at home, although we beat them 4-1 at home too Basically, you lot should win piece of piss so long as you don't get complacent and do an Arsenal
Cheers, Lenny. Can't see Villas-Boas taking too many risks, to be honest, but we do need to get the likes of Assou-Ekotto back into the side and one or two need a rest.
The only thing thats caught my eye is Coventry's badge, a griffin, a phoenix, and an elephant and castle, but most surprising, is the elephant being a first aider...impressive!
I met Gary Mcsheffery on a night out once, the night when Birmingham played United about 4 or 5 years or so ago. Really, really nice guy. spend about an hour having drinks with him at a student bar. - No sense of "yeah i'm a footballer, what do you want?!" about him at all. Top lad. ...cool story bro.
