Match Report: Chelsea 2 Spurs 0 Carabao Cup semi-final first Leg

Match Report: Chelsea 2 Spurs 0 Carabao Cup semi-final first Leg

Stamford Bridge

Happy New Year to all!

I don’t know what the most essential part of that Wednesday evening was… my trip to the restaurant with my Spurs friends, or the game… the game should always come first, but that load of crap shouldn’t be the defining moment (hopefully our 2^nd leg will be) of that day.

Mel picked me up, and we parked up in West London and caught a train in. Stopping on the way at Earls court for a glass of wine and bread roll (Mel thought that was funny)… in the end, we just got a glass of wine each and crisps. Then to the Ruskie capital for London’s Russian hand-me-downs.

After a 20  minute walk, we found the restaurant we were looking for, Mel and I ordered a bottle of Malbec and waited for the others to turn up. Colin first, followed by Terry and Ian. Then the wine started to flow, followed by the food. Colin (who lives nearby) picked an excellent choice of restaurant for us all.

We got there about 4.20, left about  7.15, and got to the ground about 7.25 (we got a taxi). I thought the COVID pass checks were a shambles; they didn’t correctly ask or scrutinise it (as I watched other people just going through). It was more of playing the acting game and through. To be fair, it is impossible to scrutinise every single person… and those that haven’t got anything (to prove they’ve had everything) can easily slip through or have a screenshot of somebody else’s COVID pass.

Once in, then to our seats and waited. I must thank a couple of supporters for their kind generosity in moving seats so I could watch the game from a sitting position. While there, I also managed to see and talk to Stephanie and Hannah from Spurs Premium. All that was more exciting than the match.

And talking of the match…

To be fair, the Russian invaders of our lands deservedly beat us in the first leg of the comic cup… sorry, Carabao Cup, which was a semi-final to a trophy. They had so many chances they should have already sealed their place at Wembley; luckily for us, they didn’t, so that gives us a chance at our Tottenham Stadium next week.

Kai Havertz gave the home side an early lead when he ran onto Marcos Alonso’s ball and fired home with Davinson Sanchez unable to keep the shot out. As for their second, it was a comedy of errors, an own goal. Japhet Tanganga headed the ball into team-mate Ben Davies’ shoulder, and it flew into the net. Badboy Lukaku had several chances and headed wide from close range.

After the interval, we changed to a back four and then had to wait about 50 minutes or more for a shot on goal. Harry Kane’s free-kick was saved by Kepa. Chelsea relentlessly continued to shoot at Hugo Lloris, who denied Lukaku, Hakim Ziyech and the returning Timo Werner. We were shit. If we have any chance of overturning the score in the second leg, then we will have to wake up and open our eyes.

The reddish spots of blemish on the Premier League, Liverpool and Arsenal, will play the other semi-final, on 13 and 20 January after the first leg was rearranged because of Covid cases in the Liverpool camp.

My thoughts

We have looked much improved since Antonio Conte replaced Nuno Espirito Santo, only losing once in 11 games before this but undefeated in the Premier League.

Emerson Royal did not control a pass from Tanganga, and Alonso nipped in to set up the opener. The second goal saw Ziyech swing in a free-kick with Spurs’ defenders doing the rest for him. We were all glad that sorry state was over and that we now can concentrate on another Cup game, this time against Morecombe (not Wise) on Sunday in the FA cup. Then a return game against the Ruskie bears of Russia on Wednesday.

After that, an underground train ride to Mel’s car, then home.

COYS! See you all on Sunday against Ernie Wise’s partner Eric Morcombe (both now dead, but Eric resurrected for our entertainment this Sunday).

All the best, Glenn

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Glenn Renshaw

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”