Hodge excited by battle of his former clubs

Wednesday night’s Capital One Cup tie should see some of the magic of previous meetings between Spurs and Nottingham Forest rekindled.

So says a man who represented both clubs in the 1980s – and who consequently has first-hand experience of some of the cracking battles between us and Forest down the years.

Steve Hodge, the dynamic former England international midfielder, scored nine goals in 54 appearances for us between 1986 and 1988, with successful spells at the City Ground either side of his White Hart Lane tenure.

The 51-year-old represented Forest when we beat them in the 1991 FA Cup final, having appeared for us in the 1987 showpiece, and has predicted another dramatic meeting at the Lane this week.

“Matches involving Spurs and Nottingham Forest are brilliant games – they always have been,” said Steve, who won consecutive League Cups with the Reds in 1989 and 1990.

“The two clubs go back a long way. I could go back to playing in the first live televised Sunday afternoon game for Forest against Spurs in 1983, while the FA Cup final in 1991 is another one that springs to mind with Paul Gascoigne’s involvement.

“I remember I actually scored two on my return to Tottenham in the League Cup quarter-final replay in 1989-90 as well.

“I’ve played probably 10 games involving Spurs and Forest over the years and they’ve always been either 2-2 or 4-1!

“They always were entertaining games and I’ll guarantee here and now there’ll be goals on Wednesday.”