David Ginola scored twice to crown a classy individual performance as Spurs
lifted the gloom over White Hart Lane and boosted new boss Christian Gross with
his first home win against bottom-of-the-table Barnsley.
And although Danny Wilson's hapless team escaped another familiar mauling
which had looked on the cards after three Tottenham goals in the first 17
minutes, long-suffering Spurs fans were at least able to head for home
contemplating a fairly merry Christmas after all.
After six defeats in their previous seven games had sent Tottenham tumbling in
the bottom three this was their make or break test against a side already
looking destined for an instant return to the Nationwide League ranks.
And although the goal that sparked their early rush was tinged with
controversy, Spurs found enough in the locker to comfortably outclass visitors
who had no more than sweat and toil as their main attributes - and certainly not
enough to contain the elusive Ginola.
Denmark's Allan Nielsen was first on the mark however, when he ran unhindered
through the penalty area after just six minutes to slam home Darren Anderton's
through ball with the Barnsley defenders standing still appealing for an offside
flag that never came.
And the match was all over as a contest when within the next nine minutes
Ginola registered a double that took him to seven goals for the season and
confirmed him as Tottenham's single most inspired hope to drag them clear of the
relegation zone.
Ginola had considerable assistance from Barnsley's German goalkeeper Lars Leese
when he hit the second Spurs goal after getting room on the edge of the penalty
area to get on the end of a link between Neilsen and winger Ruel Fox.
The Frenchman's shot was deliberately delivered towards the far corner but
without much power and it was a surprise when Leese allowed it to squirm under
his body.
There was no stopping the third goal however, when Ginola, having started a
slick five-man move that swept the ball from halfway line to corner flag from
where Fox delivered a perfect cross. The former Newcastle ace powerfully headed
into the top corner.
Spurs' fans sat back and waited for the rout and it would have come but for
misplaced shots by Colin Calderwood and Les Ferdinand when they appeared
unmarked in the penalty area to connect with Ginola's corners.
But Barnsley somehow saw out the rest of the first half without further damage
and visibly grew in confidence after the break and Spurs seemed to relax and
also miss the thrust of Ferdinand who had gone off with an injury.
Long-range shooting by Neil Redfearn and Darren Barnard kept Spurs goalkeeper
Ian Walker on his toes and alarm bells began ringing when Barnard raced down the
left and found substitute Georgi Hristov unmarked in the box.
The striker blazed well over from only eight yards and Tottenham pulled
themselves together again
Steffen Iversen, a hard-working substitute for Ferdinand, twice went close to
converting the chances that Ginola continued to create.
Then he laid back an Andy Sinton cross for Neilsen to strike a volley which
clipped the outside of a post.
Barnsley incurred four bookings as they battled to keep down the margin of
defeat and there was a measure of satisfaction in their second half performance
but they will still need a major injection of class and strength to rescue what
now looks an almost impossible task to stave off the drop.
For Spurs however, the prospects are suddenly much brighter although Christmas
matches against Aston Villa and neighbours Arsenal will again test the new
regime of manager Gross.
Teams:
Tottenham: Walker, Calderwood, Fox, Neilsen,
Anderton (Domingues 70), Ferdinand (Iversen 46), Carr,
Ginola (Clemence 88), Wilson, Sinton, Campbell.
Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Mabbutt.
Booked: Domingues.
Goals: Neilsen 6, Ginola 12, 18.
Barnsley: Leese, Eaden, Appleby, Moses, De Zeeuw, Redfearn,
Liddell (Hristov 67), Tinkler, Barnard, Ward,
Markstedt (Bullock 46).
Subs Not Used: Watson, Sheridan, Hendrie.
Booked: Appleby, Ward, Eaden, Moses.
Att: 28,232
Ref: M D Reed (Birmingham).
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