After the 2-1 reverse to Manchester United, Martin Jol said: "If we had got a point today, it would have been a nice, warm, sunny afternoon for us."
Spurs had been unable to inflict defeat on United in the same way they had managed against Manchester City at White Hart Lane. Edgar Davids, only involved in the closing stages a fortnight ago, said: "We're back on track," after he'd watched Tottenham bounce back against City.
"Already forgotten is the defeat against Newcastle United," he added. Davids had conceded the penalty, which Alan Shearer tucked away to make any second half comeback at St James Park that little bit harder. Davids spending virtually all the game on the Tottenham bench was repeated again at Everton a week later. Perhaps Martin Jol wanted him in the best possible shape for the run in with big tests from Manchester United and Arsenal anticipated to follow.
Despite United beating Arsenal, there was a shock in store for Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Sunderland last Friday, a game drawn, which Ferguson described as the worst games of the season from both of their shortlisted PFA Young Player of the Year candidates Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo.
However, United came away from the Lane on Easter Monday with all three points, courtesy of two goals from Rooney, his first set up by Ronaldo from a cross, which should have been prevented by the returning Davids. Afterwards Ferguson said: "I heard Jol on the radio on Saturday saying that it could be a good time to be playing us. I thought: ‘Oh really.'"
Source: The Times