Coventry's thin blue line, reinforced by the second-half arrival of Bosnian
new boy Mohammed Konjic, frustrated Tottenham's misfiring strikers as George
Graham's team suffered their sixth stalemate in the last seven games.
But despite the heroics of the Midlands team's solid defence Spurs could only
blame themselves for the fact that it was not a handsome victory which extended
their unbeaten home record under Graham.
In a one-sided second half they made and missed a series of golden
opportunities with substitute Chris Armstrong having no more success than the
luckless Les Ferdinand, whose initial partner Steffen Iversen was brought off 20
minutes from the end after spurning the chance of the match from just four
yards.
Surprisingly, Graham left £4million new signing Tim Sherwood on the bench
until the the last six minutes, by which time the gesture was too little, too
late.
Tottenham twice knocked on wood in a first half of missed chances at both
ends.
Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman had already done well to block Ferdinand's cross-shot
and then turn Andy Sinton's effort over the bar by the time Darren Anderton's
expertly-struck half-volley from 20 yards left him helpless but bounced away off
a post.
Although Tottenham had much the better of possession, with Steffen Freund and
Allan Nielsen working like beavers in midfield and Steve Carr and debut-making
Mauricio Taricco providing attacking width from the full-back areas, Coventry
also had their opportunities.
Gary McAllister's pass put the speedy Darren Huckerby in behind Sol Campbell
and the striker was denied not only once, but twice by Ian Walker's outstretched
legs.
Iversen's first touch let him down when the productive Anderton fed him with a
tempting pass inside the box and then Ferdinand hit a shot across the face of
goal when Carr's overlap and neat low cross set him up 12 yards out.
Iversen and Nielsen both somehow failed to make contact with Anderton's lovely
left-wing delivery with only Hedman to beat.
And deep in first-half stoppage time Sinton, attempting a similar effort to
the one which brought him his first goal in two years against Wimbledon in
midweek, cracked the underside of the bar. Campbell, with his back to goal,
hooked the rebound over.
But two even narrower escapes early in the second half must have convinced
Coventry it was their day to add another precious point to their recent
impressive run.
Ferdinand brilliantly outmanoeuvred two challengers in the area only to drag
his shot inches wide of the far post.
Then the hapless Iversen swept the ball over the bar when unmarked at the far
post on the end of Freund's superb cross.
Sky Blues boss Gordon Strachan also knew then, though, that he had to shore up
his defence and called for Konjic to replace Paul Williams in the 53rd minute,
the giant ex-Monaco defender having received his British work permit only
yesterday.
Coventry's battling effort, without the suspended George Boateng and David
Burrows, cost them four bookings for McAllister, Noel Whelan, Gary Breen and
Paul Telfer.
But their new boy, solid and powerful, did enough to promise he will soon
become a firm favourite at Highfield Road, even though Tottenham's lack of
cutting edge gave him a comfortable start.
Teams:
Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Campbell, Young, Taricco (Sherwood 87),
Anderton, Freund, Nielsen, Sinton, Ferdinand,
Iversen (Armstrong 71).
Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Fox, Vega.
Booked: Young.
Coventry: Hedman, Nilsson, Shaw, Breen (Aloisi 90),
Williams (Konjic 53), Froggatt, Telfer, Soltvedt (Clement 71),
McAllister, Huckerby, Whelan.
Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Edworthy.
Booked: Telfer, McAllister, Breen, Whelan.
Att: 34,376
Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).
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