Ginger Reaction - Tottenham

Last updated : 05 January 2003 By FootyMAD
Speaking after the 4-0 FA cup tie victory over Spurs, Strachan said: "I have no hesitation in saying it was our best performance since I have been manager here.

"We have beaten Arsenal and Newcastle at home and Chelsea away in my time here but this was the complete performance.

"This was as good as it gets because we attacked when we had the opportunity and kept the ball when we needed to.

"After we had beaten Spurs in the League here three days ago I asked my players to show greater variation and this is what they supplied. I can't ask for more.

"Above all we have been showing tremendous mental strength because it is the same 14 or so players who are performing like this every week.

"At halftime we were only 1-0 ahead and I felt it was not enough with someone like Robbie Keane in the opposition.

"Robbie is a special player and I think he must have made about 80 per cent of their chances so I said to my players at halftime that if we got a second goal we would win the game, and that's what happened.

"Everyone was first class so it was impossible to pick out any one player. Even Kevin Davies, who has been out on loan at Millwall, came on and did a great job. It was nice to see him doing well.

"James Beattie shows great self motivation and his confidence is growing all the time. He even chased a player from the halfway line to make a defensive tackle which shows the sort of player he is becoming.

"My only problem is that I must protect these players because we are using the same group constantly and there is no question of rotation here because our staff is not big enough."