GIVE IT YOUR BEST, SPURS
Heckingbottom says Barnsley hope to face strong Tottenham line-up
AHEAD of Barnsley’s glamour League Cup date in the capital this evening, manager Paul Heckingbottom’s mind wandered back to memories of another one almost exactly thirty years ago.
It was at West Ham, as opposed to Wembley, where the Reds achieved one of their most famous results in this competition – then in its guise as the Littlewoods Cup – by triumphing 5-2 at Upton Park after extra time on October 6, 1987.
As a boyhood fan from Royston, Heckingbottom knows his Reds history and purchased a video of that epic night in London, when Barnsley came back from 2-0 down to triumph, to serve as a permanent reminder.
In terms of contemporary League Cup matters, all the talk may be of a third visit to Wembley in the space of 17 months for the Reds, who will stride out on the hallowed turf to face Tottenham Hotspur, tenants at the stadium in 2017-18, this evening.
But revealing himself to be somewhat of a footballing traditionalist, the allure of playing at Wembley in a third-round cup tie is lost a little upon Heckingbottom, who admits that he would have preferred it if the tie was staged at White Hart Lane, to which Spurs, of course, bade au revoir in May while their new stadium gets completed next door.
Heckingbottom believes tonight will bare no similarities to the famous dual final dates at Wembley in the space of 57 days in the Spring of 2016 when Barnsley became the first side since Grimsby Town in 1997-98 to secure the Football League Trophy and Play-Off double.
But for the Reds’ head coach, there is romance in the shape of a good old-fashioned cup tie pitting David against Goliath, in venerable surroundings where Barnsley will be backed by around 3,000 supporters.
A repeat of those events three decades ago in East London would certainly not go amiss and the acclaim that the Reds would receive if they secure a shock victory at Wembley this evening would not be wholly dissimilar to the praise heaped upon them following the twin successes at the end of 2015-16.
Heckingbottom said: “I remember when we went to West Ham and beat them 5-2 in the era of John MacDonald and Julian Broddle. That was a League Cup game at a similar stage and that is what it is about.
“There was a video made of it and I bought it in the club shop.
“I remember being a fan then and that is how much of a big deal these games are to the fans.
“Players and fans – everybody – have just got to enjoy it because it could be a great night out and one which we always remember.”
Heckingbottom may have preferred it if tonight’s tie was in north-east London, as opposed to the north-west, but his players, understandably, are not that way inclined.
Adam Hammill, Adam Davies and Nick Townsend are the sole survivors from the squad who famously won at Wembley twice, with the bulk of the Reds players being as expectant as children awaiting for the present-opening fest of Christmas Day.
The priorities of Heckingbottom’s counterpart Mauricio Pochettino may unquestionably be the Premier League and the Champions League, but the fact remains that Spurs are still to lift a trophy since winning the League Cup in 2008.
Pochettino’s line-up is expected to include Fernando Llorente, who is likely to be handed a debut, and while it remains to be seen if the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli make an appearance, Heckingbottom knows full well the extent of the task whatever side takes the field in white.
Heckingbottom said: “Premier League players want to win and, yes, the title or top four may be their priority, but you cannot underestimate how important winning a cup is.
“My lads will want Tottenham to be as strong as possible. Everyone wants to play against the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
“I would have preferred the game to be at White Hart Lane, but the boys want it at Wembley.”
Wembley or White Hart Lane, Heckingbottom does profess to a sense of relish in doing battle with Pochettino, while admitting that he harbours his own dreams to manage in the top flight further down the line.
He added: “I would love to manage in the Premier League. Who wouldn’t? Every player wants to play there and every manager wants to coach there.
“I cannot see why not, although it is not something I am thinking about. (But) you would jump at the chance.”
“I like Pochettino. At Tottenham he has got a great English core to his side. I am a big England fan as well, so he is arguably one of the most important people for the national team as well.
“If England are to do well in the next few major tournaments, a lot of it could be down to him.”
Everyone wants to play against the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Paul Heckingbottom, on his players hoping to face a strong Tottenham line-up.