Wimbledon's sound organisation in defence, combined with Tottenham's lack of imagination in attack, produced a sterile opening leg of the second semi-final at White Hart Lane last night. David Ginola, far from providing the inspiration Spurs needed, achieved little before limping off early in the second half.
Sol Campbell flicked a free-kick from Darren Anderton past a post and Anderton clipped the same post with a well-struck 25-yard shot as Tottenham strove to gain an advantage for the return game, but Wimbledon never really came under sustained pressure.
In football, familiarity tends to breed respect rather than contempt, and Tottenham and Wimbledon were meeting for the third time in 12 days as part of a sequence which will bring them together five times in 31. Already draws in the Premiership and FA Cup had added mutual caution to last night's encounter.
Yet this was no tie-break, not for Wimbledon anyway with a home leg to come. And while Spurs were never going to risk all on an early charge, the urgency of their start suggested they knew this match was where their best chance of reaching the final lay.
Steffen Freund has given Tottenham extra quality in midfield and his early exchanges with Anderton posed a threat on the right. Yet everybody knew the result was more likely to depend on the outcome of Ginola's confrontation with Kenny Cunningham on the other flank.
Joe Kinnear's team were content to bide their time. The combination of Jason Euell, Efan Ekoku and Robbie Earle, with Michael Hughes providing width on the left, always looked for opportunities to catch Tottenham square at the back. But the speed with which Spurs were closing down space in the approaches to goal meant Wimbledon were forced to contain before they could contend.
Once Wimbledon were able to rain centres in on the Spurs goal-mouth they looked much more threatening. The mobility of Ekoku and Euell and their alert anticipation of anything in the air meant Ramon Vega and Campbell, not to mention Ian Walker, were under pressure almost every time the ball came across.
With Neal Ardley, Andy Roberts and Earle gaining a grip of the midfield, moreover, Spurs' movements began to congeal around the halfway line.
Shots from both sides tended to be long and rare. After 26 minutes Hughes and Ekoku set up a chance for Ardley whose 25-yard shot was well struck but hardly of a type to beat Walker.
For Wimbledon the moment offered mild encouragement. At least it was more than Tottenham had achieved at that stage and the quick feet of Hughes were continuing to open up space for Wimbledon on the left.
Spurs had to wait longer for a similar response from Ginola, partly because the Frenchman lacked consistent support. Wimbledon were isolating him and Ginola wandered to the right wing in search of a game of football.
Given that the two previous games between these teams had ended 0-0 and 1-1, goals were going to be scarce.
Tottenham needed more of the sort of aggression Stephen Carr showed at the start of the second half as he outpaced Wimbledon on the right before searching vainly for Iversen with his centre.
Somehow Spurs had to get among their opponents' tightly-organised cover, but still Ginola struggled to get into the game and on the hour he hobbled out of it with a tweaked hamstring.
Tottenham: Walker, Carr, Vega, Campbell, Edinburgh, Anderton, Nielsen, Freund, Ginola (Sinton 59), Armstrong (Ferdinand 60), Iversen. Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Calderwood, Fox.
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, Ardley (C Hughes 89), Earle, Roberts, M Hughes, Ekoku, Euell (Leaburn 83). Subs Not Used: Heald, Kimble, Kennedy. Booked: M Hughes.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
