Champions’ League qualification remains a crucial issue for Owen, and this result in conjunction with fourth-placed Charlton’s victory at Everton did Liverpool no favours.Spurs may have discovered a new seam of form themselves – this being their fourth successive victory – but David Pleat’s men are scarcely one of the League’s big-hitters. He was absolutely not entitled to react and turn Peter Lorimer’s follow-up from five yards on to the bar and to safety. “I’m experiencing things many players older than me haven’t,” he argues “I just hope it helps make me a world-class player.”. Even three decades later, Jim Montgomery’s double denial of Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup final remains a metaphor for those who relish sporting certainty being turned on its head. Sunderland had no right to live with Leeds, then in their pomp, but that Wembley triumph was heaven-sent and local hero Montgomery their guardian angel. The goalkeeper may have been expected to thwart Trevor Cherry’s initial point-blank header. “I can’t inject it into them or arrange a training session on experience,” says Murdoch ruefully.

His young star could be forgiven if he agitated for that move simply to find more stability Reo-Coker disagrees. I thought we would be OK, but football is a very difficult game.”There is no substitute for experience. “Even though we lost so many players I was still very positive with the talent we have coming through. Because I’m only 19 I’ve only played a certain number of games, and so when people look to me for leadership, I’m still thinking, ‘But I’ve got to learn as well, and how am I going to get around this?’ “The season has been a bitterly unlucky one. Of course I was excited – to be captain at 19, not many kids ever achieve that, so it’s something I will look back on But it’s also been a burden.

I hope I’ve managed to take it in my stride.” Little wonder his England Under-21 debut, against Turkey, was so enjoyable: “I had no pressure on me.”It’s helped, in some ways, that his Wimbledon team-mates are also young – “But it would be nice if there were a few more senior players. “There’s a lot to take into consideration, including the off-the-field goings-on But you have to mature quickly. “When I made my debut at 17, people knew me because I was shouting orders and bossing people around, and that was when Kenny Cunningham, Dave Connolly and Neil Shipperley were all there.” Nevertheless, the duties can be onerous.”It’s very hard,” he admits. “It will be sad to leave, if I do, because I can’t replace the friends I have here. We all played together in the youth team and have grown up together.”He was made captain after last summer’s exodus.

The situation is different because the administrator is handling any negotiations. If we were not in administration, the club could ask for a lot more, because I’ve got another two years left on my contract.”A product of the hugely effective Wimbledon youth system, his loyalties run deep Leaving the club, however parlous their state, is a wrench “It’s such a tight family unit,” he explains. Yes, he’s had talks with Simon Jordan, the Crystal Palace chairman, who has a £500,000 offer on the table But he’s aiming higher He wants the Premiership. “He’s offered the club to me, what he wants to achieve,” Reo-Coker says.