0-0 v Brentford FC - 19 September 2000 - Away

An injury to Sol Campbell and a red card for Neil Sullivan capped a miserable night for Tottenham who were unable to overcome lowly London rivals Brentford. Campbell picked up a shoulder injury which immediately threatens to wreck Kevin Keegan's World Cup blueprint as well as George Graham's White Hart Lane plans.

The England defender cut a dejected figure as he headed for the dressing rooms, 10 minutes before half-time, carefully cradling his left arm.

Sullivan's sending off, a straight red card for felling Paul Evans as he raced towards goal, meant the Premiership side had to play the last half hour with 10 men.

Even with a man less, Spurs dominated the game but could not find a way to penetrate a gallant Brentford defence.

They were forced to settle for a goalless draw in the Worthington Cup second round first leg.

But boss Graham paid the price for fielding a strong side. Spurs have serious intentions of recapturing the trophy they lifted in 1999 and returning to Europe without further delay.

The Scot thrust youngsters Matthew Etherington and Stephen Clemence into the midfield of an otherwise familiar line-up.

Sergei Rebrov started up front and Tottenham's £11m summer signing from Dynamo Kiev seemed to be wondering exactly where he was.

Rebrov offered a rare glimpse of his quality, testing Bees keeper Olafur Gottskalksson with a fierce second-half shot, which the Icelander tipped over, but Les Ferdinand replaced the Ukrainian 10 minutes from time.

London's all-day deluge had ensured a slippery surface but the Bees refused to allow their illustrious London rivals the chance to knit together any slick passing movements.

Ron Noades' team flew out of the traps, forcing three corners in the first 10 minutes. Gavin Mahon almost stunned Tottenham as he beat Stephen Carr to a Martin Rowlands cross but powered his header over.

Gottskalksson saved from Oyvind Leonhardsen and Stephen Clemence but Etherington wasted the best chance of the first half.

Leonhardsen, cutting in from the right, drew the final Bees defender and slipped a pass to the youngster, unmarked in front of goal, but Etherington miscued horribly and scuffed his shot well wide.

Campbell took up the challenge of boosting the Premiership team. His buccaneering run out of defence carved Brentford open and he ended the charge with a neat pass to Steffen Iversen.

The Norwegian international was denied by Gottskalksson, dashing from his line, and Etherington was unable to thread the rebound through a crowded penalty area to goal.

It was Campbell's last meaningful contribution, however, as he collided with Mark McCammon midway inside the Spurs half and was swiftly replaced by Ramon Vega.

Sullivan followed him into the dressing room, 15 minutes after the restart, having raced from his area only to misjudge a challenge on Evans, who had raced through the centre of Tottenham's defence.

The Brentford captain beat Sullivan to the ball, poked it past him and tumbled over the sliding goalkeeper.

Ref Graham Barber awarded a free-kick to the Division Two team and showed the Scotland keeper the red card.

Ian Walker came on for Etherington and the transfer-listed keeper confidently saved Evans's free-kick with his first touch.

Steffen Iversen whistled a free-kick over the bar, in the second half, and Gottskalksson twice saved long-range efforts from Clemence as Tottenham pushed in vain for a first-leg advantage.