Match Report: Spurs 2 West Ham 1(maybe a cup on the horizon?)

Match Report: Spurs 2 West Ham 1(maybe a cup on the horizon?)

League Cup Quarter-final.

Under Conte, everything is beginning to fall into place. He is undefeated since coming to the club, apart from the Europa Conference Micky Mouse competition for failed European rejects, where he only sent out a token team (which let him down). So all positive so far.

Before the game, Mel parked his car in my drive, and we went to the stadium together. A quick shopping trip to the Spurs shop (and, no, I didn't buy anything as I had most stuff… but they had run out of stuffed toy Spurs penguin's… shame on them! Pppppppick up a penguin, as the advert says… and we couldn't even do that at the Spurs shop!).

We then waited at the front of the doors to get in (because of covid, it was best to get there early to be checked).

Fifteen of us booked a table in one of Spurs Restaurants in Premium. All organised by the lovely Janet. The dinner was three-course with champagne thrown in, and Janet kindly got us Spurs crackers (what a cracker herself). She had to (we needed something to pull!). And what a time and meal… we had. Oh, and drinking time as well… of course, I was limited to five bottles because I was driving (ok, one and a half glasses).

We had the restaurant/ our table for the entire time we were in the stadium, so before, in the interval and afterwards (we were in high spirits). Half-time we had sausage rolls and afterwards a cheese board.

The Clock struck seven forty-five, and we disappeared to our seats. As I arrived at mine, the stadium was pulsating, lights, flashes, music and cheers. Then the players came out…

A cup this season?

We moved into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup as we edged the bubble-blowing Claret and white-dressed spammers in a gripping quarter-final tie.

We, yes, us, the lilywhites, went ahead when Steven Bergwijn linked up with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (back from injury) and fired home his first goal of the season after 29 minutes. We thought this was it, we were going to whitewash them… but, alas, Spurs being Spurs, our lead only lasted three minutes before Eric Dier's pitiable clearance led to Nikola Vlasic having a shot and the ball falling to Jarrod Bowen. He finished effortlessly after producing a great turn to create space. But, even though Spurs are Spurs, we are under Conte's guidance, so we quickly retook our lead and grabbed the winner two minutes later with Lucas Moura netting from Bergwijn's pull-back.

West Ham so nearly forced penalties, but substitute Andriy Yarmolenko's looping effort hit the crossbar in the third minute of injury time.

So, that was that… on occasions, it did look like the bubble blowers might get another back, but it wasn't to be… they were just left with their flask of bubble liquid and an instrument to dip into the flask so that they could rigorously blow to their hearts contents. After all, they are lunch box spammers.

In January, we will now play the Ruskies from Russia in the two-legged semi-finals

My thoughts

We are aiming to win our first trophy since lifting the League Cup in the 2007-08 campaign - and we had to battle hard to overcome a team whose only link to fame was their enthusiasm to blow bubbles all over the place.

We haven't always had it our own way; in fact, the Gods weren't always on our side… The unsmiling gentle giant, Nuno, was quickly replaced by an Italian stallion (also known as Jumping Jack Flash). Then three games were postponed earlier this month because of Covid-19, including our final Europa League Conference game, which saw UEFA award Rennes an automatic 3-0 victory (oh, and Burnley because of a few flakes of snow). It was a result that denied us a chance to advance into the next phase of UEFA's Micky Mouse tournament… oh, well, we now just concentrate on proper competitions. However, since finally getting a game, we have drawn with the Red half of Liverpool and now have beat Bubble blowing aficionados.

Harry Kane nearly opened the scoring, but their goalkeeper saved the effort before a frenzied spell of three goals in five minutes.

The Spammers have now won only one match in seven in all competitions. However, they got to the quarter-finals by beating United and last season's Carabao Cup winners Manchester City in previous rounds.

We reached the final of this competition last season, losing 1-0 to Manchester City at Wembley (which involved the Mourinho fiasco; sacked before the game), and we are now only two rounds away from the chance of another crack at getting to the final again.

So, that is that, and now we have to deal with a man dressed in Arsenal colours climbing down our chimney's to get to our children with a mince pie and a glass of milk for his efforts. And guess what, child agencies don't do bugger all… just stand on the sidelines smiling away.

I was talking to a friend of mine who said that he dressed up as Santa clause years ago, and the children sat on his knee and got a present. Nowadays, they would jail you. Anyway, that is another story…

After the final whistle, we made our way back to our restaurant table, chatted, photos, handshakes, hugs (with the opposite sex… however, there were plenty of glee in some… anyway…).

Paul Miller (yes, that Paul Miller) sat at a table next to us with his family… he recognised me and came over and wished me a Merry Christmas.

Then we left and made our way home…

Next up – apart from a perverted Santa – is Boxing day and Crystal Place!

Remember that old saying: "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases."

Or… Christmas is the time of year for one to get their nuts out… back to Arsenal/ red and Santa Clause… Merry Christmas to all!

Glenn

COYS!