CITY 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
League Division 1
13th December 1969
attendance 29,126
Scorers
City Oakes(78)
Spurs Johnson(77)
Ref G Kew
City Mulhearn, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Connor, Lee, Young, Bowyer – Sub Donachie(unused)
Spurs Jennings, Kinnear, Knowles, Mullery, England, Evans, Johnson, Greaves, Gilzean, Chivers, Perryman – Used Sub Pearce
FROM THE PRESS BOX
Not so slick Manchester City had neither the guile nor the cunning to pierce an eight man rearguard that saw Spurs finally lay a bogie that has haunted them at Maine Road in recent seasons,
Tottenham’s uncompromising defence and iron discipline too, washed away their reputation of being a team without spirit and guts away from home.
Though unattractive to watch, Spurs “new look” tactics payed off with a reward that had been their aim from the opening minutes.
They pinched their point in a 1-1 draw that ended an era of free-scoring, open matches against City who all to clearly missed the flair Colin Bell provides both in midfield and in front of goal.
David Connor never looked like filling the bill, although perhaps his lack of regular first team football attributed to this. But too often he disappeared from the pattern of play City attempted to weave in their efforts to find space in the crowded Spurs’ defence.
It was Connor’s indecisiveness and lack of authority in midfield that saw much of City’s attacking endeavour finish in frustration at the foot of Tottenam’s mighty defensive wall in which Mike England played such a key role.
Francis Lee battled gamely, but could never get the better of England and it was not until the Welsh international limped off ten minutes from the end that City finally seriously threatened Pat Jennings.
… Mike Doyle and Alan Oakes, whose 78th minute goal equalised Neil Johnson’s a minute earlier, turned on the power in a virtual one way match, but there was just not the room for City’s flowing football to really find the pay off in front of goal.
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 15TH DECEMBER 1969