2-0 v Leeds United - 24 November 2002 - Home

Tottenham Hotspur Badge

Spurs 2

Leeds United

Leeds United

0

Details
Match Number

6379

Opposition
Leeds united

Leeds United

Competition
Premier League

Premier League

Season

2002/03

Date

24th November 2002

Kick Off

14:00

Venue

White Hart Lane

Attendance

35,718

Referee

Steve Bennett

League Position

7th

Opposition League Position

14th

Opposition Form

WDDWLW

Weather at Kick Off

10.5° - Clear

Facts & Milestones
  • 6346th overall match (3012 wins, 1391 draws, 1930 losses)

  • 4868th competitive match (2168 wins, 1142 draws, 1558 losses)

  • team

    91st match vs Leeds United (33 wins, 27 draws, 31 losses)

  • competition

    407th Premier League match (143 wins, 110 draws, 154 losses)

  • 5847th match in England (2725 wins, 1316 draws, 1793 losses)

  • 2596th match at White Hart Lane (1521 wins, 559 draws, 516 losses)

Report

Terry Venables endured a miserable return to White Hart Lane as his Leeds side were tormented by Robbie Keane.

Venables both played and managed Spurs, but his new charges proved simply unable to keep track of Keane, who left Elland Road in August for £7m.

Keane made Spurs' first goal and five minutes before the interval scored with a strike of breathtaking technical excellence.

Throughout, the Republic of Ireland striker's movement and link-up play with Teddy Sheringham proved irrestible.

Roaming across the front line, Keane continually teased his former colleagues into challenges, before skipping away from them.

On 12 minutes, from a quickly taken throw-in, Sheringham released Keane, who Teddy Lucic just about managed to hold up on the edge of the box.

But the ball rebounded to Sheringham, who cleverly curled his half-volley past Paul Robinson.

If Sheringham's strike was accomplished, Keane's goal - his fourth of the season - was even better.

Fed by Gus Poyet on the edge of the area, the Irishman bent the ball with the outside of his foot round Robinson's outstretched hand to inflict the perfect revenge on his old club.

In that opening half Leeds were in disarray.

Venables' plans had already been disrupted by the loss of former Spurs player Nick Barmby, who picked up an injury in the pre-match warm up.

Jacob Burns replaced Barmby, but just before Keane's goal Venables withdrew the Australian, introducing Mark Viduka as the Leeds coach sought to rejig his team's shape.

Viduka's arrival provided a focal point for the Leeds attack, but midway through the second half the Australian picked up an injury and in turn had to be replaced by the 16-year-old James Milner.

The youngster made an immediate contribution picking out Lee Bowyer, but Kasey Keller was quick to snuff out the danger - the only real save the American had to make.

Viduka's introduction also saw Leeds revert to four rather than five at the back, which helped to restore a semblance of defensive organisation.

Alan Smith never stopped running but the contribution of Harry Kewell was rather more anonymous.

The win pushed Spurs up to seventh place, nine points behind leaders Arsenal, while Leeds are just four points above the relegation zone.

The defeat means Leeds have now just won once in nine league games.

Location
League Table
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Arsenal
15 10 2 3 33 16 17 32
2
Liverpool
15 9 4 2 26 13 13 31
3
Everton
15 9 2 4 18 15 3 29
4
Chelsea
15 7 6 2 25 13 12 27
5
Manchester united
15 7 5 3 23 16 7 26
6
Middlesbrough
15 7 3 5 19 12 7 24
7
Newcastle united
14 7 1 6 23 22 1 22
8
Blackburn rovers
14 5 5 4 19 15 4 20
9
Southampton
15 5 5 5 17 17 0 20
10
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
14 6 2 6 17 21 -4 20
11
Aston villa
15 5 4 6 14 13 1 19
12
Fulham
15 5 4 6 20 20 0 19
13
Birmingham city
15 5 4 6 15 18 -3 19
14
Leeds united
14 5 2 7 19 20 -1 17
15
Manchester city
15 5 2 8 15 23 -8 17
16
Charlton athletic
14 4 2 8 11 18 -7 14
17
Sunderland
15 3 5 7 8 17 -9 14
18
Bolton wanderers
14 3 4 7 17 25 -8 13
19
West bromwich albion
15 3 3 9 10 22 -12 12
20
West ham united
15 3 3 9 15 28 -13 12
# Team PL W D L GF GA GD PTS
1
Arsenal
15 10 2 3 33 16 17 32
2
Liverpool
15 9 4 2 26 13 13 31
3
Everton
15 9 2 4 18 15 3 29
4
Chelsea
15 7 6 2 25 13 12 27
5
Manchester united
15 7 5 3 23 16 7 26
6
Middlesbrough
15 7 3 5 19 12 7 24
7
Tottenham Hotspur Badge Tottenham Hotspur
15 7 2 6 19 21 -2 23
8
Newcastle united
14 7 1 6 23 22 1 22
9
Blackburn rovers
15 5 5 5 20 18 2 20
10
Southampton
15 5 5 5 17 17 0 20
11
Aston villa
15 5 4 6 14 13 1 19
12
Fulham
15 5 4 6 20 20 0 19
13
Birmingham city
15 5 4 6 15 18 -3 19
14
Leeds united
15 5 2 8 19 22 -3 17
15
Charlton athletic
15 5 2 8 14 19 -5 17
16
Manchester city
15 5 2 8 15 23 -8 17
17
Sunderland
15 3 5 7 8 17 -9 14
18
Bolton wanderers
14 3 4 7 17 25 -8 13
19
West bromwich albion
15 3 3 9 10 22 -12 12
20
West ham united
15 3 3 9 15 28 -13 12
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