Bolton vs. Tottenham
For one of the most popular teams ever to play soccer, the Tottenham Hotspur don?t exactly stand out as one of the elite teams in the English Premier League.
The Spurs have been around since 1882, moving into what would become known as White Hart Lane in 1899. They?re one of the most beloved teams in London. But other than a particularly strong run in the 1960s (they won both the league and the FA Cup in 1961), championships have been few and far between.
Things didn?t change with the formation of the EPL. The highest finish the Spurs have ever managed was seventh place back in 1994-95. However, this year Tottenham is on its way to UEFA Cup action, sitting in fourth place on the table at 17 wins, eight losses and 11 draws. That leaves the Spurs four points ahead of Arsenal with just two games left in the regular season for Tottenham and three for the Gunners.
The team locals call the Lilywhites showed its mettle in last Saturday?s 1-1 draw at Highbury versus the archrivals from Arsenal. Tottenham took the lead in the 66th minute on a goal by Robbie Keane, and nearly hung on for the victory before Thierry Henry broke the visitors? hearts with the equalizer with just six minutes remaining. Arsenal was a 5-8 favorite to win; the Spurs would have paid off at a handsome 7-2 if it hadn?t been for Henry. The price for a draw was 7-3.
Tottenham supporters were still pleased with the result. By preventing the Gunners from picking up three points, the Spurs held onto their four-point advantage over Arsenal, giving them a chance to put a stranglehold on fourth place in front of the home fans at Sunday?s matchup against the Bolton Wanderers. Tottenham has been scintillating at White Hart Lane this season. Only two losses were suffered at the North London grounds, compared to 11 wins and five draws.
Bolton is in a bit of a funk after losing five of the last seven matches, but the Trotters might be just the team to throw a spanner into the Tottenham works. The Wanderers went into the Lane and stole the win in both their last road affairs; the Spurs have just one victory in their last seven League and Cup meetings with Bolton. Another win at the Lane would also breathe new life into the Trotters? European hopes. They?re in eighth place on the table, six points behind Arsenal with three EPL fixtures remaining ? two at home against relatively weak opposition from Middlesbrough and Birmingham.
The Wanderers may have enjoyed recent success in North London, but they might need to change their name after this year?s poor play outside Reebok Stadium. Bolton has just four away wins this season and none in the last 10 road trips. Breaking that streak is going to be less of a challenge now that defender Radhi Jaidi (hamstring) and midfielder Joey O?Brien (thigh) have been declared ready to go for Sunday. Jaidi scored the winner in the Trotters? 2-1 win over the Spurs last season in Lancashire, and the Tunisian native is considered one of the best defenders in his own end ever to come out of Africa. O?Brien is a promising Dubliner who won the 2003-04 Youth Academy Player of the Year award.
Bolton will be without striker El-Hadji Diouf for the rest of the season after coach Sam Allardyce banned the Senegal native from first-team duties and ordered him to improve his fitness. Diouf hasn?t been the same after he needed a double hernia operation after he returned in February from competing in the African Nations Cup. Allardyce is no stranger to tough love; he booted the midfield trio of captain Kevin Nolan, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Jay-Jay Okocha from the starting lineup before last Saturday?s meeting with Charlton Athletic. Nolan and Giannakopoulps lead the team in scoring with nine goals apiece. The rest of the players got the message, thumping Charlton 4-1 to break a four-game goalless streak.
Tottenham will be down a pair of midfielders this Sunday. Jermaine Jenas is out of action with a shin injury, while Edgar Davids is suspended after receiving a red card against Arsenal. Egyptian striker Ahmed Mido is unlikely to play because of a knee injury, although he could dress as a substitute. Mido is second on the Spurs behind Keane with 11 goals; Jenas is fourth with six. Davids, the Dutch international star known as ?Pitbull,? has 10 yellow cards on the season to go with his red card.
The opening kick from White Hart Lane is set for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
---Perry
BetWWTS.com
For one of the most popular teams ever to play soccer, the Tottenham Hotspur don?t exactly stand out as one of the elite teams in the English Premier League.
The Spurs have been around since 1882, moving into what would become known as White Hart Lane in 1899. They?re one of the most beloved teams in London. But other than a particularly strong run in the 1960s (they won both the league and the FA Cup in 1961), championships have been few and far between.
Things didn?t change with the formation of the EPL. The highest finish the Spurs have ever managed was seventh place back in 1994-95. However, this year Tottenham is on its way to UEFA Cup action, sitting in fourth place on the table at 17 wins, eight losses and 11 draws. That leaves the Spurs four points ahead of Arsenal with just two games left in the regular season for Tottenham and three for the Gunners.
The team locals call the Lilywhites showed its mettle in last Saturday?s 1-1 draw at Highbury versus the archrivals from Arsenal. Tottenham took the lead in the 66th minute on a goal by Robbie Keane, and nearly hung on for the victory before Thierry Henry broke the visitors? hearts with the equalizer with just six minutes remaining. Arsenal was a 5-8 favorite to win; the Spurs would have paid off at a handsome 7-2 if it hadn?t been for Henry. The price for a draw was 7-3.
Tottenham supporters were still pleased with the result. By preventing the Gunners from picking up three points, the Spurs held onto their four-point advantage over Arsenal, giving them a chance to put a stranglehold on fourth place in front of the home fans at Sunday?s matchup against the Bolton Wanderers. Tottenham has been scintillating at White Hart Lane this season. Only two losses were suffered at the North London grounds, compared to 11 wins and five draws.
Bolton is in a bit of a funk after losing five of the last seven matches, but the Trotters might be just the team to throw a spanner into the Tottenham works. The Wanderers went into the Lane and stole the win in both their last road affairs; the Spurs have just one victory in their last seven League and Cup meetings with Bolton. Another win at the Lane would also breathe new life into the Trotters? European hopes. They?re in eighth place on the table, six points behind Arsenal with three EPL fixtures remaining ? two at home against relatively weak opposition from Middlesbrough and Birmingham.
The Wanderers may have enjoyed recent success in North London, but they might need to change their name after this year?s poor play outside Reebok Stadium. Bolton has just four away wins this season and none in the last 10 road trips. Breaking that streak is going to be less of a challenge now that defender Radhi Jaidi (hamstring) and midfielder Joey O?Brien (thigh) have been declared ready to go for Sunday. Jaidi scored the winner in the Trotters? 2-1 win over the Spurs last season in Lancashire, and the Tunisian native is considered one of the best defenders in his own end ever to come out of Africa. O?Brien is a promising Dubliner who won the 2003-04 Youth Academy Player of the Year award.
Bolton will be without striker El-Hadji Diouf for the rest of the season after coach Sam Allardyce banned the Senegal native from first-team duties and ordered him to improve his fitness. Diouf hasn?t been the same after he needed a double hernia operation after he returned in February from competing in the African Nations Cup. Allardyce is no stranger to tough love; he booted the midfield trio of captain Kevin Nolan, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Jay-Jay Okocha from the starting lineup before last Saturday?s meeting with Charlton Athletic. Nolan and Giannakopoulps lead the team in scoring with nine goals apiece. The rest of the players got the message, thumping Charlton 4-1 to break a four-game goalless streak.
Tottenham will be down a pair of midfielders this Sunday. Jermaine Jenas is out of action with a shin injury, while Edgar Davids is suspended after receiving a red card against Arsenal. Egyptian striker Ahmed Mido is unlikely to play because of a knee injury, although he could dress as a substitute. Mido is second on the Spurs behind Keane with 11 goals; Jenas is fourth with six. Davids, the Dutch international star known as ?Pitbull,? has 10 yellow cards on the season to go with his red card.
The opening kick from White Hart Lane is set for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
---Perry
BetWWTS.com
