Sheringham and Ferdinand shared 70 years but no goals

Heading the list was 38-year-old Mark Hughes, who had company in the Blackburn team in the shape of Brad Friedel (30), Henning Berg (33) and Stig-Inge Bjornebye (32).

Even winning goalscorer Andy Cole will soon have enough candles on his birthday cake to set off smoke alarms or cause serious burns if he gets too close to blow them out.

Spurs also relied heavily on the experience of years.

The front pairing of Teddy Sheringham and Les Ferdinand share 70 years equally, while they were backed up in midfield by Gus Poyet (34) and Tim Sherwood (34).

Sheringham is living proof that when a player reaches his middle 30s, speed of thought becomes more important than quickness of foot.

Lack of pace

Sheringham has made an art-form of finding calm in the eye of the storm, finding time and space almost by standing still in the hurly-burly surrounding him.

As defenders mature in years, it becomes even more important for them to acquire wisdom.

The ability to read the game can often get them into a position quicker than their legs.

For all that Bjornebye and Berg have become streetwise and canny, Spurs will be disappointed not to have exposed their lack of pace more.

Glenn Hoddle's side created enough chances to have won the game, but there were long spells when Berg and company were allowed to be comfortable.

They organised themselves well and Spurs did not do enough to pull them out of shape.