Nor was he the only Frenchman who found it hard to keep up with Shearer on Saturday

Nor was he the only Frenchman who found it hard to keep up with Shearer on Saturday. Coventry’s central defender, Jean-Guy Wallemme, suffered terribly at his hands, literally so in the 42nd minute when Shearer, in typically brusque manner, shoved him out of the way to fire Newcastle ahead, at 2-1.Up until then, Gordon Strachan maintained, only one team was likely to win the game – Coventry. It was a bit more equal than that, the game careering wildly out of control from one end of the field to the other. And for that Newcastle, indeed football, should be truly grateful.

The strange thing was that, to all intents, Shearer again found himself playing alone up front, so inept was the performance of his co-striker Stephane Guivarc’h, who, given a second chance to impress Gullit, failed lamentably. It was almost as if the coach was trying to tell him something when, late in the game, he substituted him with the son of the man who bought him – Paul Dalglish.Aime Jacquet and Kenny Dalglish must have seen something in the player, but, if Shearer is to stay, Gullit could be struggling if he hopes to use Guivarc’h to finance a deal or two – World Cup winner or not. Not that Gullit was about to admit his blunder afterwards, describing it in coachspeak as “a tactical switch”, which conveniently explains away everything, including cock-ups.But one has to agree with Gullit that the team is now playing with a lot more confidence, and, one has to say, a greater freedom than it did during those introverted times under the cautious Kenny Dalglish. I cannot imagine for one moment that his old coach at Chelsea, Graham Rix, would have agreed with him taking the field with not one, not two, but three players who were essentially wingers. It was reminiscent of his final few days at Stamford Bridge, when it was alleged that he had lost the plot.At least he recognised his mistake and withdrew the Peruvian, Nolberto Solano, who he had deployed in central midfield, in favour of Gary Speed, who clearly knows the position rather better. Until the England captain took a very firm hand, this game was heading for a draw at best for the Geordies.

Coventry were certainly stripped naked, but, in terms of the football being “sexy”, the Full Monty had more going for it.
“Lucky” was the word that came more to mind than “sexy”, even if Gullit’s original selection was daring to the point of being risque. Tottenham: Calderwood, Tremanezzi.Man of the match: Segers.Attendance: 15,204.. Coventry City 1 Newcastle United 5

IF, DESPITE all that has been said to the contrary, Ruud Gullit does end up selling Alan Shearer, he had better use the money wisely, because days like Saturday will be hard to replicate without him. Substitutes not used: Hiley, Bashem, Moss (gk).Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-1-1): Segers; Carr, Vega, Campbell, Tremezzani; Fox, Calderwood, Berti (Dominguez, 74), Clemence; Ginola; Ferdinand. Substitutes not used: Edinburgh, Gower, Armstrong, Walker (gk).Referee: K Burge (Tonypandy).Bookings: Southampton: Benali. When he reflects upon the dreary football of the past four years, and the constant battles with relegation, Sugar may reflect that perhaps he should have stuck with Ossie Ardiles after all.Goals: Fox (25) 0-1; Le Tissier (53) 1-1.Southampton (4-3-1-2): Jones; Warner (Lundekvam, 53), Dodd, Palmer, Benali; Gibbens, Howells (Beattie, 53), Bridge; Le Tissier; Ostenstad, Hughes.