Match Report

Sheffield Wednesday

Tottenham Hotspur

Pressman, Atherton, Nolan (Oakes, 55), Pembridge (Stefanovic, 89), Newsome, Walker, Carbone, Di Canio, Hyde, Hinchcliffe, Rudi.

Attendance
29,871

Referee
M J Bodenham

Baardsen, Edinburgh (Domingues, 77), Howells, Calderwood, Fox, Nielsen, Armstrong, Carr, Ginola, Campbell, Berti (Brady, 63).

Subs not used: Booth, Clarke, Magilton.

Subs not used: Mabbutt, Grodas, Gain.

Booked: Hyde, Carbone.

Booked: Howells, Fox, Ginola.

Goal Scorer: Sturridge 25, Wanchope 77

    Paolo Di Canio took full toll of yet more `Keystone Kop' defending as Spurs were dumped right back in the danger zone.
    The Italian ace hardly had his most impressive game since coming south from Celtic in the summer, too easily shackled by Sol Campbell.
    But when Justin Edinburgh gave a graphic example of why he will be on his way next summer, Di Canio was on the spot to claim his 12th of the season and send suffering Spurs to another deserved defeat.
    Edinburgh has been the most obvious casualty of the Christian Gross era, out of the team since the Swiss coach's arrival, told he will be released in June and only drafted in today because Clive Wilson was ruled out.
    And with such backing from his manager, it was perhaps inevitable that the defender would contribute in the wrong way 12 minutes before the break.
    Having erred in not clearing once, the defender then allowed Graham Hyde to rob him, and while Nicola Berti blocked his driven effort, Petter Rudi's follow-up fell perfectly for Di Canio to slide home.

    It was a mistake that showed just why Spurs should have done everything in their power to secure the services of Andy Hinchcliffe who did nothing special but more crucially nothing wrong for Wednesday as they ended their four-match winless streak.
    Spurs really could not complain, even if it need a superb save by Kevin Pressman six minutes from time to deny Ruel Fox after David Ginola had shown his creative genius.
    They went even closer in injury-time, Chris Armstrong seeing his 25-yarder beat Pressman but bounce away off the post.
    But that frantic finale - applauded by the Spurs fans - could not hide the brutal truth that they are still in desperate trouble.

Espen Baardsen had kept them in it with a series of saves as Wednesday - who lost Ian Nolan with a double-fracture of his right leg - were more than worth the points. And as Tottenham trooped off at the end, the triumphant celebrations after that win at Blackburn a fortnight ago looked decidedly premature. It was a far cry from the first meeting, when Spurs had started on fire. Back in September, David Pleat, now Tottenham's Director of Football, had been in the Wednesday dug-out and Gerry Francis in charge at Spurs. Much has changed at both clubs, not just off the pitch - although Pleat opted not to travel north - but one consistent factor has been the form of Ginola, and it was to the Frenchman that Spurs were looking for inspiration. For that, however, he needs the ball, and once Wednesday realised he was being starved of service - as was the isolated Armstrong - they were able to take Peter Atherton off man-marking duty.
	Tottenham, missing the suspended Ramon Vega and Wilson, but with Campbell back in command, seemed content to soak up the pressure, as they had at Ewood, although Hyde's early air-shot in front of goal was a let-off. Wednesday had control but two long-range strikes by Mark Pembridge - both held by Baardsen, were the limit of their real inroads. Indeed, Italian Berti, criminally left unattended twice from Ginola corners, should have made the most of the opportunities, before Edinburgh's blunder proved so costly. Wednesday's delight soon turned to despair with the sad sight of Ian Nolan stretchered off with fractures to both his tibia and fibula after an accidental clash with Edinburgh. That put things into context but it could have been worse for Spurs, more defensive muddles allowing Jon Newsome to turn and shoot a fraction wide, the visitors happy to reach the break with a foothold in the game.

    Undeserved at that, and Di Canio might have put them out of it soon afterwards spooned over, before a Carbone tumble over Colin Calderwood brought the same lack of interest from Martin Bodenham as he had shown at Highbury last Sunday.
    Armstrong blazed over from David Howells, Ginola brought a save - his first of the game - from Kevin Pressman, before Baaardsen could not hold Oakes' strike with Di Canio tripping over the rebound and scuffing wide.
    Spurs, at last, seemed to have woken from their slumbers, Ginola seeing far more of the ball, and Wednesday growing nervy, but it was a false dawn.
    Forced back again, Baardsen did well to foil Newsome just after the hour before saving from Rudi and Carbone, and Ginola's increasing frustrations were clear.
    Rudi, put through all alone by Di Canio with 13 minutes left, somehow contrived to miss the target altogether, demonstrating just why he has so far failed to open his Hillsborough account.
    Against better teams than Spurs, it would have been costly, and should have been.
    Armstrong headed at the keeper from Fox, who then held his head in his hands as his shot from no distance was turned over the top.
    There was still time for substitute Jose Domingues to squander another clear-cut opening, failing to keep his shot down, as Spurs desperately sought the leveller.
    It did not come, Armstrong so close with the final kick, but Tottenham's late effort was in vain - too little, too late, not good enough.