Tuesday, 23th September 1997
Reebok Stadium

	Bolton Wanderers	1	VS	1	Tottenham Hotspur
Branagan, Frandsen, Taggart, Pollock, Sellars, Blake, Thompson, Bergsson, Beardsley, Fish, Whitlow.			Attendance 23,433 Referee U D Rennie	Walker, Edinburgh (Armstrong, 45), Calderwood (Nielsen, 87), Mabbutt, Fox, Campbell, Clemence, Mahorn (Vega, 45), Ginola, Domingues, Carr.
Subs not used: Todd, Johansen, Ward, Gunnlaugsson, McAnespie.				Subs not used: Baardsen, Wilson.
Booked: Bergsson, Sellars.				Booked: Mabbutt, Vega, Fox.
Goal Scorer: Thompson 20pen				Goal Scorer: Armstrong 71

Chris Armstrong scored his first goal of 1997 that could signal a change at last in Tottenham's miserable luck.     The jinxed £4.5million striker, making only his second appearance of the year as a second-half substitute at Bolton, combined with new signing David Ginola to grab a dramatic 72nd minute equaliser at the Reebok Stadium. The French winger, a big disappointment since his £2.5million move from Newcastle, at last produced a cross of genius after dashing onto young Stephen Clemence's quick throw on the left.     It was perfect for Armstrong on the back post to squeeze his header between goalkeeper Keith Branagan and the upright, his first goal since November 2 last year before he needed two operations on his ankle.
It was the first goal Spurs have scored in four league games, only their fourth point away from home in 10 games since March and a bit of good news among all the early season gloom. Not that it was all positive. Justin Edinburgh joined the likes of Les Ferdinand, Darren Anderton, Stefan Iversen and Andy Sinton in a treatment room busier than Holby Casualty on a Saturday nigth when he sliped and did the splits, injuring his groin.     But this was a game that left Premiership newcomers Bolton stunned.     They should have had this game easily won by the break, when it looked like Spurs were heading for the sort of 6-1 rout they suffered at the old Burnden Park in the Coca Cola Cup last season.     Alan Thompson ensured Bolton have no need of an exorcist to lift the curse on their new £35million ground, scoring the first goal beneath its futuristic curves from the penalty spot after 200 minutes' of action involving goalless draws against Everton and Manchester United.
It was fitting that the Geordie claimed the distinction of being the first name down on the scoresheet, because he had earlier denied a goal that would have lived long in the Lancastrian memory.     But his searing 15th minute 25 yard left-footer crashed down off the underside of Ian Walker's crossbar and bounced back to safety. Five minutes later though Nathan Blake was the hero, after being the villain of Saturday's piece when he was sent off for fighting with England defender Gary Pallister.

Blake laid the ball into ex-Spurs player Gudni Bergsson on the edge of the box and timed his run to perfection to take the return pass in the clear until Stephen Carr clattered him from behind for referee Uriah Rennie to point to the spot.     Thompson gave Walker no chance, hoisting his conversion high into the topleft corner for his second goal of the season.     Bolton, who had Peter Beardsley back for John McGinlay, should have stretched away then and gained the win that would have lifted them above Spurs in the table.     Spurs, again fielding another makeshift attack of Jose Dominguez and Paul Mahorn, were completely outplayed, the Trotters fans even chanting ``Ole'' as their team put together almost unhindered passing moves.

Blake had a shot tipped round the post, Thomspon drilled another just wide and Walker saved from Blake again.     Ramon Vega replaced Edinburgh for the second half while Armstrong made his second susbtitute appearance for Mahorn. The Swiss defender was booked within three minutes for chopping down Beardsley, but the changes and Francis' half-time team talk galvanised Spurs.

Dominguez began to find space to attack defenders on the right and Clemence also pushed up enterprisingly on the left. Armstrong had a shot saved low by Branagan, who then had to fly to stretch and punch out a menacing cross from Armstrong from the left byeline.     Per Frandsen raised Bolton cheers as he battled through on the right and brought Walker back into the game and Blake should have put the match beyond Spurs in the 58th minute when Peter Beardsley's clever pass put him clear. He drove past the advancing Walker but his shot whistled just inches the wrong side of the right-hand post.     Walker was lifted off his feet by another Thomspon piledriver, and even after Spurs levelled Bolton had chances enough to win the game.     But Blake, without a goal in his previous five outings, was the main culprit, squandering two great opportunities as the honours finished even.

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