It’s the last orders at the Last Chance Saloon for QPR against Tottenham this Saturday. Oh how they could do with a repeat of an extraordinary second half performance against Spurs on this ground in 1992.

Recent Meetings

Spurs 3 QPR 1, Sunday October 30, 2011, Premiership

Tottenham’s performance against QPR back in October was about the best I’ve seen from a Premiership team live this season and it needed Rangers to be at their very best just to hang onto their coat tails. A breathtaking first half in which QPR’s defence clung on by its finger nails while the attack was hindered by Adel Taarabt’s worst performance for the club saw the home side surge into a two goal lead. Gareth Bale finished expertly after 20 minutes and Rafael Van der Vaat added a second just under a quarter of an hour later in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Harry Redknapp told reporters afterwards his team had heard some serious arguments coming from the away dressing room at half time and sporting a new look team with Jay Bothroyd and Jamie Mackie added to the mix Rangers started to make a game of it. They had Spurs worried when Bothroyd halved the deficit just after the hour mark but a flowing move and sumptuous strike from Bale ten minutes later made the points safe for the home side.

Tottenham: Friedel 7, Walker 7, Kaboul 7, King 7, Assou-Ekotto 6, Lennon 7, Parker 9 (Sandro 86, -), Modric 9, Bale 8, Van der Vaart 8, Adebayor 6

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Gallas, Defoe, Bassong, Livermore

Goals: Bale 20 (assisted Lennon), Van der Vaart 33 (assisted King), Bale 72 (assisted Lennon)

QPR: Kenny 8, Young 6, Ferdinand 7, Hall - (Gabbidon 9, 6), Traore 6, Faurlin 7, Derry 5 (Mackie 46, 7), Wright-Phillips 7, Barton 7, Taarabt 4 (Bothroyd 46, 8), Helguson 7

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Hill, Buzsaky, Smith

Goals: Bothroyd 62 (assisted Helguson)

Spurs 1 QPR 0, Saturday December 9, 1995, Premiership

By the time QPR arrived at White Hart Lane in December 1995 they were on a disastrous run of ten league games without a win – a run that had been triggered by a collapse in the home fixture with Spurs in September that we’ll move onto shortly. Considering Ray Wilkins’ team actually finished the season quite strongly it was this dreadful run through October, November and December that would eventually cost them their Premiership place. Meak surrenders were the order of the day and having allowed Teddy Sheringham to open the scoring with the time still in single figures Rangers rarely, if ever, looked like getting back into the game. As I’ve said so often about games from our last Premiership campaign, when you look at the QPR team on paper it’s not hard to see why it struggled.

Spurs: Walker, Calderwood (Edinburgh 84), Campbell, Mabbutt, Wilson, Howells, Dozzell, Rosenthal, Fox, Sheringham, Armstrong

Subs:Day, McMahon

Goals: Sheringham 3

Bookings: Howells

QPR: Sommer, Bardsley, Yates, McDonald, Challis, Impey, Barker (Charles 78), Holloway, Sinclair, Hateley, Gallen (Osborn 63)

Subs: Maddix

Bookings: Barker, McDonald

QPR 2 Spurs 3, Monday September 25, 1995

It’s hard to believe, now we know everything that went on subsequently, but there was actually a decent amount of optimism around Loftus Road when Spurs visited for a live Monday Night Football encounter in September 1995. A pretty lousy start to the first post-Les Ferdinand season at Loftus Road had given way to victories over Man City and, memorably, away at Leeds 3-1 and more importantly Ray Wilkins had gone out and spent some money on a Ferdinand replacement. Sadly that replacement was Mark Hateley, who was paraded in front of the supporters before this game on crutches. Nevertheless Rangers set about Spurs well and former boss Gerry Francis could only watch in stunned silence as Danny Dichio gave QPR the lead, and then straight after half time Andy Impey nodded in Rufus Brevett’s looping back post cross. Then, disaster. Within a minute of doubling the lead QPR found it halved in controversial circumstances – Teddy Sheringham embarrassingly flinging himself over the back of Karl Ready as the defender turned to chase a ball that had long since cleared the area and was no longer anywhere close to either of them. David Ellery always was an obliging referee for Sheringham, and Spurs, and awarded the softest of soft penalties. From then on a collapse always looked likely and Sheringham and Dozzell scored a goal each in three devastating minutes midway through the half. QPR did recover to win at Bolton a week later but then won only two of their next 18 matches in the league and were eventually relegated.

QPR: Sommer, Maddix, McDonald, Ready, Brevett, Impey, Holloway, Barker, Osborn (Allen 79), Sinclair, Dichio

Subs: Gallen, Challis

Goals: Dichio 36, Impey 46

Spurs: Walker, Austin, Calderwood, Mabbutt, Wilson, Anderton (Edinburgh 65), Dozzell, Howells, Rosenthal, Armstrong, Sheringham

Subs: Campbell, Thorsvedt

Goals: Sheringham 48, 75, Dozzell 73

Bookings: Calderwood, Howells, Armstrong

Previous Results

2011/12 Spurs 3 QPR 1 (Bothroyd)

1995/96 Spurs 1 QPR 0

1995/96 QPR 2 Spurs 3 (Dichio, Impey)

1994/95 QPR 2 Spurs 1 (Ferdinand)

1994/95 Spurs 1 QPR 1 (Impey)

1993/94 Spurs 1 QPR 2 (Sinclair 2)

1993/94 QPR 1 Spurs 1 (Ferdinand)

1992/93 Spurs 3 QPR 2 (Peacock, White)

1992/93 QPR 4 Spurs 1 (Penrice 2, Holloway, Wilkins)

1991/92 QPR 1 Spurs 2 (Sinton)

1991/92 Spurs 2 QPR 0

1990/91 Spurs 0 QPR 0

1990/91 QPR 0 Spurs 0

1989/90 QPR 3 Spurs 1 (Wilkins, Sinton, Barker)

1989/90 Spurs 3 QPR 2 (Bardsley, T Francis)

1988/89 QPR 1 Spurs 0 (Falco)

1988/89 Spurs 2 QPR 2 (Falco, T Francis)

1987/88 QPR 2 Spurs 0 (Kerslake 2)

1987/88 Spurs 1 QPR 1 (Coney)

1986/87 Spurs 1 QPR 0

1986/87 QPR 2 Spurs 0 (M Allen, Byrne)

1985/86 QPR 2 Spurs 5 (Bannister, Rosenior)

1985/86 Spurs 1 QPR 1 (Byrne)

1984/85 QPR 2 Spurs 2 (Bannister 2)

1984/85 Spurs 5 QPR 0

1983/84 QPR 2 Spurs 1 (Fereday, Gregory)

1983/84 Spurs 3 QPR 2 (Fenwick, Stainrod)

1981/82 Spurs 1 QPR 0*

1981/82 Spurs 1 QPR 1* (Fenwick)

1980/81 Spurs 3 QPR 1** (Stainrod)

1980/81 QPR 0 Spurs 0**

1978/79 Spurs 1 QPR 1 (Clement)

1978/79 QPR 2 Spurs 2 (Bowles, Shanks)

1976/77 Spurs 3 QPR 0

1976/77 QPR 2 Spurs 1 (Bowles, Clement)

1975/76 Spurs 0 QPR 3 (Francis 2, Givens)

1975/76 QPR 0 Spurs 0

1974/75 QPR 0 Spurs 1

1974/75 Spurs 1 QPR 2 (Bowles 2)

1973/74 QPR 3 Spurs 1 (Bowles, Givens, Francis)

1973/74 Spurs 0 QPR 0

1973/74 QPR 1 Spurs 0*** (Givens)

1968/69 QPR 1 Spurs 1 (Clarke)

1968/69 Spurs 3 QPR 2 (Clarke, Clement)

1949/50 QPR 0 Spurs 2

1949/50 Spurs 3 QPR 0

1948/49 QPR 0 Spurs 0

1948/49 Spurs 1 QPR 0

* - FA Cup final

** - FA Cup

*** - League Cup

Player Connections

Terry Fenwick >>> QPR 1980-1987 >>> Spurs 1987-1993

Defender Terry Fenwick blossomed as a ball playing defender in the revolutionary defensive set up at QPR under manager Terry Venables before moving to North London to join Spurs, against whom he’d scored a late equaliser in the 1982 FA Cup final.

Fenwick was born in County Durham but started his footballing career in South London with Crystal Palace where rookie boss Venables promoted him into the first team as a full back. When Venables left struggling Palace early in the 1980/81 season to join QPR, who were a division lower at that time, he quickly moved to bring Fenwick with him amid a host of December signings.

At Rangers Fenwick would play full back but also sweeper and won 19 England caps during his time with the club. He was selected by England for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, by which time he’d won promotion with Rangers in 1983 and established himself as a classy top flight defender as the R’s finished fifth in their first campaign back in the top flight.

The moment he’s best remembered for at Loftus Road however is the Wembley goal that helped Second Division QPR take First Division Spurs to an FA Cup final replay in 1982. Fenwick stole in unmarked to head home Bob Hazell’s flick on from a long throw just minutes from time to equalise but the R’s were beaten in the replay.

Venables left QPR to become Barcelona manager in 1984 but when he returned three years later at Spurs he signed Fenwick for a second time. After 307 senior starts in QPR colours, and an impressive 45 goals, Tottenham paid £550,000 to secure his services in December 1987. Fenwick never really hit the same heights at Tottenham as he had at QPR, and after a broken leg in 1989 hindered his performances he was loaned to Leicester in the 1990/91 season and then sold to Swindon for the 1993/94 campaign. In the meantime he served two months of a four month prison sentence for drink driving in 1991.

Swindon had been promoted to the inaugural Premier League through the play offs but player manager Glenn Hoddle had upped and left to join Chelsea leaving John Gorman to carry the can for a disastrous season in which the Robins only won five matches – two of them against QPR of course. Fenwick struggled and retired in 1995.

Fenwick then had two and a half seasons as Portsmouth manager, missing relegation on goal difference in the first and missing the play offs by a point in his second. He was sacked midway through the 1997/98 campaign with Pompey bottom of the First Division. Thereafter Fenwick became embroiled in several unsuccessful takeovers of tiny clubs that involved him being named manager usually to no great success – Southall, Northampton and almost Luton all went that way.

He now manages San Juan Jabloteh in the Pro League in Trinidad and Tobago.

Others >>> Luke Young, Spurs 1997-2001, QPR 2011-present >>> Adel Taarabt, Spurs 2007-2010, QPR (loan) 2009, 2010-present >>> Kyle Walker, Spurs 2009-present, QPR (loan) 2010-2011 >>> Wayne Routledge, Spurs 2005-2008, QPR 2009-2010, (loan) 2011 >>> Radek Cerny, Spurs 2005-2008, QPR 2008-present >>> Dean Parrett, QPR (trainee), Spurs 2007-present >>> Rohan Ricketts, Spurs 2002-2005, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Stephen Kelly, Spurs 2000-2006, QPR (loan) 2003 >>> Dean Marney, Spurs 2002-2006, QPR (loan) 2004 >>> Chris Day, Spurs 1995-1996, QPR 2001-2005 >>> Dave McEwen, Spurs 2000-2001, QPR 2001-2002 >>> Peter Crouch, Spurs 1998-2000, 2009-2011, QPR 2000-2001 >>> Steve Slade Spurs 1994-1996, QPR 1996-2000 >>> Les Ferdinand, QPR 1987-1995, Spurs 1997-2003 >>> Clive Wilson, QPR 1990-1995, Spurs 1995-1999 >>> Gerry Francis, 1968-1979, 1981-1982, (manager) 1991-1994, (manager) 1998-2001, Spurs (manager) 1994-1997) >>> Andy Sinton, QPR 1989-1993, Spurs 1996-1999 >>> Paul Walsh, Spurs 1988-1992, QPR (loan) 1991 >>> Neil Ruddock, Spurs 1986-1988, 1992-1993, QPR (loan) 1998 >>> Ossie Ardiles, Spurs 1978-1988, (manager) 1993-1994, QPR 1988-1989 >>> Steve Hodge, Spurs 1986-1988, QPR 1994-1995 >>> Mark Falco, Spurs 1978-1987, QPR 1988-1991 >>> Danny Maddix, Spurs 1986-1987, QPR 1987-2001 >>> David Kerslake, QPR 1984-1989, Spurs 1994-1997 >>> Clive Allen, QPR 1978-1980, 1981-1984, Spurs 1984-1988 >>> Andy Gray, QPR 1989, Spurs 1992-1994 >>> Terry Venables, Spurs 1966-1969, (manager) 1987-1993, QPR 1969-1974, (manager) 1980-1984 >>> Alan Brazil, Spurs 1983-1984, QPR 1986 >>>Alan Mullery, Spurs 1964-1972, QPR (manager) 1984 >>> Frank Saul, Spurs 1960-1968, QPR 1970-1972 >>> Roger Morgan, QPR 1964-1969, Spurs 1969-1972 >>> Les Allen, Spurs 1959-1965, QPR 1965-1969, (manager) 1968-1971 >>> Frank Smith, Spurs 1954-1962, QPR 1962-1966

Memorable Match

QPR 4 Spurs 1, Saturday October 3, 1992, Premiership

QPR manager Gerry Francis had complained long and hard about the requirements placed on his side at the start of the inaugural Premier League by a gruelling August fixture list. Taking part in the first ever Premiership Monday night football game on the opening weekend against Man City followed by a home match with Southampton 48 hours later Rangers would somehow end up playing five matches in 12 days.

That didn’t seem to faze them initially, a third straight win in the fourth match away at Coventry lifted the R’s to second in the fledgling table, but there were hints of fatigue setting in through September as first Arsenal and then two of the newly promoted sides Ipswich and Middlesbrough came to Loftus Road and left with draws. Still, by the time Tottenham Hotspur came to W12 on the first Saturday in October Rangers had lost just one of their opening ten league games. That said, star striker Les Ferdinand was injured for this game and replaced in attack by Dennis Bailey alongside Gary Penrice.

Spurs were under the joint managership of Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence at this stage with Terry Venables in situ as chief executive and Alan Sugar as chairman. They finished fifteenth the season before, and sacked Peter Shreeves as boss as a result, but striker Teddy Sheringham would go on to bag 21 goals this season and lead the team to slightly better things.

On a miserable day weather wise at Loftus Road things started as you might expect: Darren Peacock producing a trademark slip in the wet conditions and Sheringham stealing in to open the scoring at the Loft End in the midst of the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Tottenham held that lead through to half time.

But Gerry Francis, who would go on to manager at White Hart Lane after walking away from Rangers two years later, had inspiring words for his team at the break and QPR blew their north London visitors away in the second period. A deep cross from Ray Wilkins fell kindly for Ian Holloway who struck a powerful bouncing volley into the roof of the net for a rare goal to equalise.

Then persistent pressure around the edge of the Spurs area and an injury to Darren Caskey eventually meant space opened up down the left flank for Andy Sinton to cross low into the area where Ray Wilkins stooped to head home from six yards. Wilkins didn’t score many goals for QPR, and even fewer headers, so that was a real collector’s item and absolutely brought the house down.

It was one way traffic thereafter and Sinton was the architect of a third goal, pulling a cross from Andy Impey out of the air at the back post, skipping to the byline and hammering in a low cross that Gary Penrice could scarcely miss from four yards out. And when Impey then cleverly stepped over a low centre from David Bardsley Penrice again found himself unmarked, on the penalty spot this time, and he lashed home emphatically to seal a memorable 4-1 win.

It’s strange the things you remember, even from all those years ago. This was my first year as a season ticket holder at Loftus Road and back then the tradition was for our travelling party from Grimsby to meet with our London friends in Farmer Brown’s café in Covent Garden for breakfast. My dad had a full English that day, as per usual, but spent most of the first half returning it projectile style at the back of the P-Block. Scrambled eggs on toast for him every Saturday thereafter, for he blamed the food rather than the copious amounts of bitter supped in the Goldhawk between the breakfast and the kick off.

Rangers finished fifth in the Premier League that season, four points ahead of eighth placed Spurs who sacked the management team again at the end of the campaign and brought in former player Ossie Ardilles who’d just won the Second Division play offs as manager of West Brom.

QPR: Stejskal, Bardsley, McDonald, Peacock, Wilson, Impey, Wilkins, Holloway, Sinton, Penrice, Bailey

Highlights >>> QPR 4 Spurs 1 92/93 >>> QPR 2 Spurs 2, 84/85 >>> QPR 1 Spurs 1 82 Cup Final >>> QPR 3 Spurs 1 73/74

Tweet @loftforwords

Pictures – Action Images

Photo: Action Images

SonofNorfolt added 02:12 - Apr 19 Terry Fenwick, an absolutely brilliant player for us, as important as any one you care to mention. We murdered 'em in that second half in '92, if only Penrice had stayed fit regurlarly.
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parker64 added 06:48 - Apr 19 Can't believe that game is 20 years ago. One of my favourite games ever. Blew Spurs away in the second half with so much movement and pace. Seemed like we'd score with every attack.
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smegma added 09:23 - Apr 19 The 4-1 game featured heavily in the Michael Nyman tv programme . I remember it absolutely lashed down that day from start to finish. BTW Sheringhams 'goal' was actually a Bardsley og (look carefully on the video). Also Clive, in your write up you say we went 2nd with the win at Highfield Rd, as I recall it we were the first London club to top the new PL with that win.
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BrianMcCarthy added 11:01 - Apr 19 Coventry were top , i think, heading into that game at Highfield Road? Either way, we definitely were top at the end. I remember two things after that game in the car park where all the Rangers were parked. Firstly, that the real radio reports confirmed we were. Secondly, that someone (having nicked the idea from Danny Baker, had recorded a fake set of the other results of the day, and was playing them loud! Along the lines of Liverpool 3 (cue massive gasps from listening fans) Man Utd 6 (even bigger gasps!). It was done brilliantly. All scores were high so that no matter what half-times had been heard, the fake final score was stiil feasible! we were in on the joke, and it was almost impossible to stay serious!

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BrianMcCarthy added 11:03 - Apr 19 And the less said about The Gurnham Singh 1-2 game the better!
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JB007007 added 14:35 - Apr 19 Great memories again Clive. The 4-1 in particular. Whenever Darren Peacock slipped or made a mistake we always ended up conceding. What I remember really well about that is that Spurs had their two "big" money signings playing centre back that day - Cundy and Ruddock. Another one from the memory bank was the last game of the season at White Hart Lane in '94. We won 2-0 there, Sinclair scored and it was piddling down that day too. Lets pray for rain on Saturday!

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TacticalR added 00:23 - Apr 20 Spurs have always been a bit of a bogey side for me. In particular we never seemed to get anything against Keith Burkinshaw's Spurs side, including the 1982 Cup Final.
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