Unlucky City lose to last gasp Spurs

Steve Curry|Daily Mail13 April 2012
Manchester City 0 Tottenham 1

The fans of Tottenham Hotspur could learn a thing or two from the Maine Road regulars.

Instead of calling for new owners ENIC to axe manager George Graham, Spurs supporters should study the loyalty shown by those in Manchester City colours who, on the face of it, have a good deal more to complain about.

In five days' time, if they over-come Stockport County, Spurs will be in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Furthermore, a glance at the table suggests it is still possible that the Premier-ship could offer them an alternative route into Europe.

While that might not quite silence those who judge a Tottenham season only in comparison to what Arsenal do, at least it would constitute progress.

Graham believes it is time for Tottenham fans to accentuate the positive. He is thick-skinned enough to endure the personal taunts but he believes the way forward for his club is through unity.

'There have been too many side-issues over the past year which, if you're not careful, are reflected in performance,' he said.

'I've taken a lot of unnecessary stick, which can only be a result of the Arsenal connection from my past. I can take that because it goes with the job, but what fans have to understand is supporting the team.'

They could copy the Maine Road faithful, who formed the large percentage of the 34,399 crowd and for whom the spectre of relegation back to the First Division looms ever larger.

They roared themselves hoarse in support of their heroes and nobody seemed to be heckling Joe Royle just because he spent 12 years as manager of neighbouring Oldham Athletic.

The objective for Spurs fans should be to ensure their team are given the encouragement to achieve what is feasible this season, rather than wonder whether the new board should go cap-in-hand to Southampton manager and former White Hart Lane idol Glenn Hoddle.

It is worth emphasising, as Graham did, that Tottenham's first away League victory of the season extends an unbeaten run to eight matches, results achieved while their main cannons have been under repair.

'Fans have to be realistic,' said Graham. 'We're getting results while having a lot of players, strikers in particular, coming back from injury.

'Maybe the quality of football isn't the best but there are good things happening. Forget me. Forget managers. Ultimately the fans and myself are after the same thing anyway. The game is about the players and they're the ones who need encouragement.

'All the distractions only offer the players an excuse when things aren't going well. If the fans want to give me stick, then fine. But do it at the end of a game, not when it can divert the players' concentration.'

City had only encouragement from their fans in a fixture they must surely have fancied as a source of survival points.

A disallowed effort from Darren Huckerby was a tough call and manager Royle - who will not be signing Germany midfielder Thomas Strunz after his week's Maine Road trial - said: 'We're waiting for a break.

I couldn't fault my players. Nobody let us down. It was a great strike-rate for Spurs: one attempt, one goal. But as long as we come out as we did today, we'll be OK.'

Sadly, it is not going to be OK. Goals, rather than hustle and bustle, separate winners and losers in football and the one Sergei Rebrov scored a minute from time could be decisive in more ways than one.

It may well give fresh impetus to Tottenham in their pursuit of Europe, while appeasing their support, but it could ultimately prove a mortal wound for City.

Their fans deserve better.

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