The day Lampard cried all the way back to SW6 (yes, we beat them on penalties).
It was a game that we weren’t expected to win, with 9 changes, three games in a week, and even Mourinho prepared to sacrifice this game, it was there for Lampard to take the spoils. And guess what, he fluffed his lines, even with Dier taking time out to have a dump.
The match.
Let us start with Mason Mount, yes that Mason Mount who missed the crucial spot-kick as we edged past the Rentboys on penalties after a 1-1 draw to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Mount, the hero of the night!! A total of nine penalties had been converted before Mount stepped up to take the 10th, but his hapless effort clipped the post and went wide, and we at home jumped for joy (a lovely girl!), the Spurs boys were beside themselves.
Chelsea indeed dominated the first half, and their new signing Timo Werner netted his first goal for the club with a clinical finish into the bottom corner, but that was as far as they got. They did the runaround until they run out of ideas (and steam). We responded, just after the break, magnificently – remember all those changes before the game?
Debutant Sergio Reguilon’s side-footed effort from inside the area was pushed over the crossbar by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was also making his first appearance for his new club (I bet he is wondering what he’s got himself into?).
Seven minutes from time Reguilon kicked the ball through to the back post for Erik Lamela to coolly convert from six yards. We were level, and we were delighted. We felt the change in the air. You could smell it, unless that was Frank Lampard shitting himself…
New rules, COVID-19 all around, which equated to no extra time played, so, straight to penalties and victory. Chelsea Mount-ed the curb and crashed the bus.
Now, going back a bit, before the game, Mourinho seemed to dismiss the competition before the match, saying the sheer number of fixtures his side face means he has to prioritise the Europa League as the money from it is “very important”. Was this psychological bubble and toil/ ploy to fool the young and inexperienced Lampard? Yes, we do have a gruelling schedule; a run of four games in the space of eight days. After drawing with Newcastle on Sunday and getting past Chelsea on Tuesday, further matches follow on Thursday, against Maccabi Haifa in Europa League, and on Sunday, when we meet Manchester United in Premier League.
Nevertheless, Mourinho and the boys will be delighted at scraping through against Chelsea. This is a game that Pochettino would have lost, even against Orient, as he didn’t have any respect for this competition or the FA Cup.
As for new boy Reguilon, whose mistake led to Chelsea’s goal, he improved as the game wore on, showcasing his electric pace and ability to create a goal. He was a constant outlet down the left in the second half, and it was he who picked out Lamela for the equaliser.
Dier, Lamela, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Lucas Moura and Harry Kane all converted their spot-kicks to help us through to the next round, which takes place in December. The draw will be made on Thursday.
Mourinho commented after the match, “Mentally this win gives us a lift. The feeling is good, on Thursday we have fresh players, and I hope they can give us what these boys gave us tonight.” Hopefully, not the Dier shits, but a win.
The stats
Chelsea have lost six of their last eight League Cup penalty shootouts, including all three at the fourth-round stage (also v Burnley in 2008-09 and Stoke in 2015-16).
Jose Mourinho has progressed from 26 of his 31 League Cup ties, with this the first time he has ever progressed via a penalty shootout in the competition, losing his previous three.
Mourinho has faced Frank Lampard four times without winning in his managerial career (D2 L2) – twice as many as he has faced any other manager without registering at least one win.
Erik Lamela has been directly involved in six goals in his last four League Cup starts for us (3 goals, 3 assists).
Each of the two League Cup meetings between Mourinho and Lampard have gone to penalty shootouts, with both managers progressing once – Lampard in 2018-19 with Derby v Man Utd and Mourinho tonight with Spurs.
What next:
Maccabi Haifa in Europa League on Thursday (1st Oct, 8pm), and on Sunday, we meet Manchester United in Premier League (4.30).
Best regards, Glenn
This match report is an edited version, the full version (with all the blood and guts) can be found on my blog. For that click here. Or you can go straight to spursnetwork Facebook page. To comment, you can below or by going to our Fanzone Forum, and for that click here.
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My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”