Super Sub

As part of an occasional feature, Andy Greeves takes at a look back at a match in which a substitute has made a real impact for us. Today he remembers Nico Claesen’s winning goal against Chelsea in August 1987.

With then-manager David Pleat employing a 4-5-1 formation for much of the 1986/87 season, striker Nico Claesen had to be content with a place on the bench for periods of his debut campaign in English football. Fellow frontman Clive Allen was in undroppable form, as he netted 49 times in 54 matches in all competitions during the season. Claesen meanwhile made 13 of his 37 appearances during the campaign as a substitute, having signed for us from Standard Liege for a fee of £600,000 in October 1986.

The Belgian international scored 11 goals in his first season with us, with his strikes away to Coventry City in the league and at home to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup coming as a substitute. He started in our 2-1 defeat at Coventry City on the opening day of the 1987/88 season before taking his place on the bench for our back-to-back home matches with Newcastle United and Chelsea.

While fellow sub-John Polston replaced Gary Stevens during our 3-1 victory over Newcastle on 19 August 1987, Claesen was an unused substitute. As he had done for the opening two matches of the season, Pleat once again opted for a five-man midfield for Chelsea’s visit to N17, with John and Nico taking their place on the bench while Clive Allen led our forward line. Prior to England’s upcoming friendly with West Germany, then-Three Lions boss, Bobby Robson took his place the West Stand at White Hart Lane to watch the likes of Gary Mabbutt and Chris Waddle in action as we took on the Blues.