Head to Head - Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry City

This weeks programme cover is from City's first top-flight visit to Spurs back in April 1968.

It's a different stadium now, but 58 years later we visit Spurs again looking to make it 3 wins on the bounce.

We've had some good visits to Spurs over the years. Here are some highlights that will bring back some memories ......... and some nerves!

Head to Head

Here's this week's Head to Head Explorer for Spurs. It lists all the past games, home and away (and neutral!), scores, scorers, totals and links to highlights where we can find them.

https://headtohead.letsallsingtogether.com/tottenham-hotspur/

And here's the stats for away Spurs, from the explorer.

Matches at Spurs - 45

Wins for Coventry City - 9

Wins for Spurs - 26

Draws - 10

Total goals: 146

Average goals per match: 3.24

Goals for 53, Goals against 93

So a win every five games for City away at Spurs. Out of the last 10 away games though, City have won 4, drawn 2 and lost 4. Let's have a look back at some of those.

City's last trip to Spurs was in the third round of the FA Cup in 2013. A brace from Dempsey and one from Gareth Bale saw City knocked out despite our '87 kit.

City's last PL visit also ended 3-0 on 17th March 2001. Iversen, Ferdinand and Rebrov easily saw off a relegation-haunted City. Highlights can be seen on the PL website HERE, if you really want to punish yourself.

The season before City found themselves 3-0 down again but mounted a late comeback with a wonderful turn by Robbie Keane and a determined goal from Youssef Chippo.

A 0-0 draw preceded that in 98/99 and a 1-1 draw in 97/98, with a late equaliser from Dublin.

The game all City fans of this era remember, though, is 11th May 1997. City were woeful for nearly the entire season, and with the squad they had, they shouldn't have been. They lost to Forest 3-0 at home in an opening-day shocker and took two goes to get past Woking in the FA Cup. March saw them fail to win any of their five games with just draws against Wimbledon and Leicester.

They were in big trouble before somehow winning away at Liverpool and at home to Chelsea. After a penultimate-game home loss to Derby (the third time City had lost to Derby that season) everyone walked out of HR fearing the worst after wins for Southampton, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. It was a disastrous day.

City now had to go to Spurs and win, and hope Sunderland lost at Wimbledon or Boro didn't win at Leeds. There was also the threat of Boro's legal action after they had been docked 3 points for failing to fulfil a fixture. Just to add to the drama the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic, bringing back memories of May 1977 when there was delayed kick-off for City and Sunderland ended up being relegated.

What happened at White Hart Lane that afternoon will never be forgotten.

Sunderland lost at Wimbledon and Middlesbrough only drew at Leeds. Those last 15 minutes when we knew the win would keep us up was agony, with Oggy keeping us ahead. I lost all feeling in my arms, nausea was everywhere. Surely one of City's greatest ever escapes.

If you were there as well, put your memories in the comments below!

A Strachan-inspired City had secured their top-flight status at Spurs just a couple of years earlier too. It's worth watching this just to see 38-year-old Strachan still being the best player on the pitch, having a hand in all 3 goals.

The earliest away footage we can find is from the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1981. City had beaten Leedsand Birmingham in previous rounds and were doing well in the cups, also reaching the semi-final of the League Cup. Spurs knocked them out though with goals from Ardiles, Archibald and Hughton. Tommy English who we mentioned yesterday in the teenage scorers article had made it 2-1. Spurs would go on to win the Cup in the classic final and replay v Man City.

Remember you can relive more past trips to Spurs at this weeks Head to Head Explorer for Spurs. It lists all the past games home and away (and neutral!), score, scorers, totals and a link to highlights where we can find them - https://headtohead.letsallsingtogether.com/tottenham-hotspur/