Coventry v Tottenham, 1987
Coventry, Retrospective, Tottenham
The 1987 FA Cup is widely regarded to have produced one of the classic Cup Finals. An overachieving Coventry City lined up against a talented Tottenham Hotspur side.
Overview
During the 1986/87 season Tottenham, under manager David Pleat, played free-flowing football facilitated by a five-man midfield: they did not deviate from this style for the Cup Final. With Glenn Hoddle, the playmaker, as the most advanced midfielder it could be considered that Tottenham played a 4-4-1-1 formation. However, flexibility underpinned Pleat’s approach and the players’ roles overlapped a great deal and they often switched positions over the course of a game. Therefore, despite fielding just one forward, the prolific Clive Allen, this was an approach predicated on attacking football. Ossie Ardiles sat the deepest of the midfielders during the final, breaking up attacks and initiating many of Tottenham’s moves. Paul Allen sat level with Ardiles in central midfield for the early exchanges, but advanced more as the game progressed.
Perennial strugglers Coventry had enjoyed a good season in the league which was complemented by an impressive cup run. Coventry fielded a traditional 4-4-2 employing Keith Houchen at the target man next to fellow forward Cyrille Regis. Tough tackling Lloyd McGrath was allocated the task of marking Glenn Hoddle so sat deeper than his fellow central midfielder, the busy Michael Gynn. For this fixture Coventry’s 4-4-2 thus resembled 4-1-3-2. Midfielder David Phillips dropped to right-back to cover for the injured Brian Borrows. 
The game
Before the game had settled Tottenham stole an early lead which intimated that this could be a one-sided affair. Chris Waddle turned Coventry left-back Greg Downs and delivered a cross from the right; Clive Allen met it first and headed past Steve Ogrizovic. Coventry rose to the occasion, however, and did not let the early goal crush them. Houchen’s aerial presence caused Gary Mabbutt and Richard Gough problems and Coventry prevented Tottenham from dominating. Coventry pulled the game level just seven minutes after they had conceded. Downs’s cross from deep was flicked on by Houchen; right-midfielder Dave Bennett stole in ahead of a static Tottenham defence and finished deftly past Ray Clemence.
Coventry were perhaps also unlucky to have a goal ruled out on 20 minutes: Regis’s header was disallowed as Houchen was adjudged to have pushed Gough, but the contact was slight. After half-an-hour of the game Spurs were hitting their stride and with the five-man midfield combining well, they were able to retain possession and stretch Coventry. However, Tottenham’s expansive approach did leave them prone to counterattacks. During this passage of play Waddle was dispossessed on the edge of the Coventry area; Coventry broke and were faced with a threadbare Tottenham defence; Regis slid the ball through to Gynn but his shot was saved by Clemence. Tottenham did manage to take the lead again though before half-time. A free-kick delivered by Hoddle from the right was spooned into the net from the edge of the six-yard box. The goal was credited to Mabbutt but on reflection it appears to come off Coventry defender Brian Kilcline.
Both sides continued to attack in the second-half and had further chances to score. For Coventry, Gynn was played through by Kilcline but was denied by a Gough tackle. At the other end, Clive Allen turned adroitly in the box but was crowded out by Peake and Downs before he could get his shot away. Just after the hour mark this open game yielded a further goal. A long-ball from Ogrizovic was flicked on by Cyrille Regis, Houchen played the ball out to Bennett, Bennett crossed and Houchen, continuing his run, finished with a diving header. With the score now at 2-2 both sides had opportunities to win the game within normal time, but Tottenham perhaps threatened the most. Clive Allen was arguably isolated a little during this game without a strike-partner, but when he received the ball in the box he was always dangerous. On 80 minutes he just failed to convert a Hodge cross whilst under pressure from Kilcline. And then with two minutes to go in normal time, Allen made space for himself but could only shoot against Ogrizovic’s legs from a tight angle.
The game opened up even more in extra-time but it was Coventry that managed the breakthrough. Substitute Graham Rodger broke from defence and fed McGrath on the right; McGrath’s cross caught Mabbutt’s knee and looped over Clemence to make it 3-2 to Coventry. In the second period of extra-time Tottenham did not look likely to draw level. Perhaps the fluid five-man midfield was not equipped to carry a team through 120 minutes as Tottenham seemed more weary than Coventry. Waddle in particular appeared to be labouring in a more central position. Pleat brought Nico Claesen on to join the attack and even Gough advanced to provide an aerial option. Hoddle moved back in the endeavour to influence play from deeper, but it was to no avail and if anything Coventry threatened more. An interception by Dave Bennett just inside the Tottenham half allowed him to send Gynn through, but the latter failed to round Clemence. Coventry then held on comfortably for a deserved and famous victory; their first major trophy in their 104 year history.
In conclusion
Coventry perhaps did not display the sophistication of Tottenham over this final, but there was more to Coventry’s game than route one football. They battled very hard but also engaged in some lively and well coordinated attacking play of their own. What is apparent, on reflection, is how much ground both sides covered. Tottenham did adopt a flexible approach but players for both sides assumed positions which appeared contrary to their allocated roles. It may have been that man-marking was adopted over a zonal approach. At times even full-backs ended up on the opposite side of the pitch from their regular positions. It is also interesting that neither side had much penetration on the left. Steve Hodge seldom advanced down his flank for Tottenham to test makeshift right-back Dave Phillips. Meanwhile Coventry’s left-midfielder Nick Pickering had very little attacking presence and did not advance to the Tottenham goal-line throughout the game. Pickering however was somewhat waylaid with defensive duties. Waddle was a handful for Downs so the left-back required support, and whenever Paul Allen broke from midfield it was usually down this flank as Tottenham tried to make the most of their extra midfielder.
Coventry’s stalwart defender Trevor Peake became increasingly commanding as the game progressed after a couple of shaky first-half moments, and he needed to be at the top of his game to thwart Clive Allen. McGrath and Gynn were also crucial and battled hard throughout to contain Hoddle and the other Tottenham midfielders. Hoddle’s influence was significantly curtailed by the close attentions of McGrath and this limited the efficacy of Pleat’s five-man midfield. While Tottenham attacked freely at times it must be noted that the only goal they scored from open play was two minutes into the game. Therefore, whilst both sides could have won this entertaining and open fixture, nobody could begrudge the hardworking and spirited Coventry their moment of glory.
Edward @ April 17, 2008
