Wallace: Fans will behave

Chairman Phil Wallace is confident that Harry Redknapp will not get any abuse from Stevenage fans when he brings Tottenham to Broadhall Way.

Last Updated: 18/02/12 at 13:57    Bet with SkyBet  FA Cup. Click here to bet.

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Redknapp was recently cleared of two charges of cheating the public revenue, but still faced taunts over the charges brought against him by Newcastle fans in the club's 5-0 victory over the Magpies on Saturday evening.

The 64-year-old, who always maintained his innocence and lambasted the authorities last week for bringing the case to court after he was cleared, faced chants from away supporters throughout his 13-day trial and before it too.

The worst instance came when Spurs travelled faced Shamrock Rovers in Dublin last December, when Redknapp responded to the almost constant taunting of the home fans by aiming a disparaging gesture their way in the second half of his team's 4-0 win.

The Spurs boss last week described the trial as "the most draining experience of my life" and spent most of this week recuperating from the ordeal with his wife Sandra in Dubai.

He returns to action on Sunday when Tottenham travel to Stevenage in the fifth round of the FA Cup and the chairman of the League One side on Saturday assured the former Portsmouth and Southampton boss that he will get a friendly welcome.

"This is not that sort of ground," Wallace told Press Association Sport.

"I am sure there will be a few comments, as there is always is in life, but I'm sure he will take it in the right way.

"I am sure it will not be vindictive and I would be surprised if it even happened at all to be honest."

The Spurs boss has repeatedly stated his desire to lift the FA Cup this year and his team are the bookmakers' favourites to win the competition following the exit of both Manchester sides.

Wallace was at pains to point out on Saturday that Tottenham will not be given an easy ride, however.

Stevenage sit 47 places below the London club in the league ladder, but they Hertfordshire club are full of confidence having achieved back-to-back promotions in the past two years.

Boro, who are now sixth in npower League One, also have a good FA Cup pedigree having knocked Newcastle out of the competition last year in the third round.

"As ridiculous as it sounds, we will be going out to win and there is nothing to stop us beating Spurs," Wallace said.

"People outside the game will be looking at it thinking we have no chance, but this is the FA Cup and we beat Newcastle last year.

"There is a massive gulf in the technical ability between the two teams, but our side has been together a long time and there is a great organisational and team spirit here and that will go a long way to countering that gulf.

"We are in the play-off places, competing for a place in the Championship, it's not like we are a Conference team.

"We have done very well to get where we are and we will be looking to get a result on Sunday. We want to get in the last eight in the competition and if we do that, then we will be looking to get in to the last four."

Sunday's game, which will be shown live on ITV1, will be a particularly proud moment for Wallace, who took over the club in 1999 when Stevenage Borough, as they were then known, were playing non-league football and were on the verge of going out of business.

"The club was on its knees. It was just about to fold," he said.

"It took about four or five years to build up the infrastructure of the club.

"We have since built a new stand and have just bought a new 42-acre training ground."

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den Hazard, def. - 1) that girl in a club who makes eyes at you all night, who allows you to buy her a drink and walk her home arm in arm, who then gives you a suggestive kiss on her doorstep before declaring how tired she is and how she has to be up early the next day. 2) A cock tease.

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h how I wish RVP could enjoy a similar moment. Hats off to Drogba. One of the best strikers in the Premier League Era. All that diving, play acting is forgotten because he wore his heart on his sleeve and proved his worth.

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oodbye old chum. For some reason i always had a soft spot for Manual. I think it was because he had the gumption to bleach his head blonde while being in his 30's. Gotta love somebody that ridiculous.

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