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Monday, November 2, 1998 Published at 22:16 GMT


Charlton hold depleted Spurs

Allan Nielson skips past Neil Redfearn

A spirited performance by Premiership newcomers Charlton was enough to hold Tottenham to a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane on Monday.


BBC Radio 5 Live final whistle match report
Two goals from Andy Hunt clearly scared the home side who looked to have dominated the game during a fine performance during the opening half.

Spurs were forced to make several changes to their line-up with Les Ferdinand failing to recover from his ankle injury and his replacement last week, Steffen Iversen, picking up a knock in training.

With David Ginola suspended that meant a first league start of the season for Andy Sinton with Ruel Fox also part of a five man midfield, leaving Chris Armstrong to plough a lone furrow up front.

The visitors caught George Graham's side with a classic counter-attack after being pinned back in their own half for much of the opening 45 minutes.

Hunt and strike partner Clive Mendonca had been effectively snuffed out by Sol Campbell and John Scales for half an hour and goalkeeper Sasa Ilic was forced into two fine saves at the other end to keep the scores level.


[ image: Allan Nielson (right) is congratulated by Darren Anderton]
Allan Nielson (right) is congratulated by Darren Anderton
But the Addicks scored with their first real threatening attack of the game to stun the home crowd, Hunt tapping in after Mendonca's deflected shot had hit the post.

After the break however, Spurs took just four minutes to get back on level terms, perhaps inspired by the appearance of George Graham on the bench.

Darren Anderton released an overlapping Steve Carr down the right flank and his cross along the six-yard box was slid in by Allan Nielsen for his third goal of the season.


Chris armstrong gives Spurs the lead
Spurs were then almost gifted a second, when Eddie Youds' attempted clearance from another Carr cross slicing off his left foot and going inches wide of the far post with Ilic stranded.

But the home faithful only had another few minutes to wait - during which time Calderwood and Edinburgh were booked - to take the lead.


[ image: Steve Carr is tackled by Chris Powell]
Steve Carr is tackled by Chris Powell
Just seconds after receiving a yellow card Edinburgh got to the byline and delivered a superb cross which Armstrong met with a diving header as he stole in between two defenders to give Ilic no chance from six yards.

It was his fourth of the season - his first in the league - and looked like being the start of a landslide as Spurs poured forward with renewed confidence.


Andy Hunt scores his second to give Charlton a well earned point
But Charlton were far from finished and on 74 minutes Hunt secured his second of the match to bring the scores level.

Substitute Steve Jones exploited the wide open spaces on the right wing to fire in a cross that Hunt steered past Baardsen with his left foot from just inside the area.

It was enough to hold the home side to a draw and prove to George Graham he still has much to do to placate the Tottenham crowd and steer Spurs back towards the top of the table.



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