Sheffield United 2 - Tottenham 1

On the first day of this season I was visiting some friends in Ireland. The only game I saw that day, alone in a strange and reasonably empty pub, was Sheffield United v. Liverpool. I expected Liverpool to win, of course, and was therefore pleasantly surprised by the fight that Sheffield put up. After a while, the whole pub ( the other 15 people or so) started cheering on Sheffield United, simply because of sympathy for this newly promoted underdog. An underdog with a bite. They ended up with a well-deserved draw. Well-deserved, certainly, for spirit. Their next fixture took them to White Hart Lane, where they lost 2-0, but as we saw yesterday the spirit is still there. (Incidentally, they have to go to Liverpool next time.)

For 15 minutes or so, Tottenham outplayed Sheffield United, who weren't able to get much of the ball. Nice passing and a brilliant run from Jermaine Jenas secured a goal after 2 minutes. But the underdog bit back again, and for most of the second half United dominated possession, steely and aggressive play leading to several chances. At corners (of which they had a good few) they looked dangerous - and inevitably equalised from one as Rob Hulse headed in on 27 minutes. In the second half Spurs came back and tried to fight for the ball, but to little avail. Teemu Tainio's somewhat clumsy tackle gave Sheffield a penalty, which was well taken by Jagielka, and at 2-1 it was to stay - a goal by Rocha being disallowed. Putting all four strikers, Berbatov, Keane, Defoe and Mido, onto the field did not help and despite some good chances, Tottenham did not strike again.

Before the game I had been watching rugby in the pub, or at least tried to watch rugby. I don't really know the sport very well and there is just too much of big men shoving each other in muddy piles on the ground for my taste. So I harped on to my friends about the aesthetic beauty of football. And then my team played Sheffield United... and it's back to muddy piles again! Well at least the mud. And some of the shoving. And the realisation, for the umpteenth time, that my lads just aren't tough enough against sides that go for the physical approach. Of course, in a way, I prefer the lovely football that they are playing at the moment - or at least play when the opposition let them - to any other tactics. But if it is going to work with any sort of consistency they have to learn to fight as well as pass nicely. Play their game even when the opposition won't let them. Toughen up and bite back.

Sheffield United
Kenny, Geary, Jagielka, Lucketti, Armstrong, Kazim-Richards (Fathi 72), Tonge, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Hulse (Bromby 90), Stead.
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Webber, Nade.
Booked: Montgomery, Tonge, Bromby.
Goals: Hulse 27, Jagielka 62 pen.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Zokora, Tainio (Defoe 63), Malbranque (Mido 73), Keane, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri, O'Hara.
Booked: Rocha, Defoe, Chimbonda, Jenas, Keane.
Goals: Jenas 2.

Attendance: 32,144
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire)