Tottenham – Newcastle (Premier League)
Tottenham sees this Sunday fixture against Newcastle at White Hart Lane has a three point opportunity to cut the distance to leading Arsenal. The power boost that results from beating a tittle contender is what’s feeding the Magpies right now. And certainly Alan Pardew is not letting that go to waste.
A six-games unbeaten streak has placed the Spurs in the fourth place in the table, level on points with 2th Chelsea and 3th Liverpool. Not a bad spot, despite the five-point gap to leader Arsenal. Tottenham had a 2-1 victory over Sheriff in the Europa League following a goalless draw with Everton last Saturday. They have scored merely fourteen times in ten matches. The Spurs game is missing some flair and it’s borderline dull but it gets the job done, they sum points. A more practical approach that does not please the Tottenham fans. In the five games Vlad Chiriches started for the Spurs they did not concede. He had a stellar performance in the 0-0 against Everton and was allowed to rest in mid-week Europa League fixture. He is now expected to return to the lineup to strength the back. Roberto Soldado netted for the last time on October 27, in a penalty shoot against Hull City. Maybe Jermain Defoe gets his chance to start again. André Villas-Boas confirmed that Hugo Lloris will line-up in the Sunday’s game against the Magpies. The French goalkeeper was knocked unconscious in last weeks fixture but André Villas-Boas and the Tottenham’s medical staff allowed him to play on. Emmanuel Adebayor, Danny Rose, Nacer Chadli and Kyle Naughton fill the Spurs injury board.
Probable lineup: Lloris – Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen – Sandro, Paulinho – Towsend, Holtby, Lennon – Soldado.
A week ago Newcastle managed a 2-0 victory over Chelsea, a memorable and entirely deserved one. Pardew had a plan to start slow, conservative and to unleash the team’s energy on the opposition later on. Apparently that worked against the the Blues, but will Tottenham fall far the same strategy? Facing another top seed is a good way to keep the squad motivated provided they can keep up with the rivals and do not get crushed. In the last few weeks Newcastle draw with Liverpool, fell to Sunderland, lost again at home to Manchester City in overtime and defeated Chelsea. It’s like a roller-coaster. However, three points would get them in the first eight and that would be ever so comfortable. Alan Pardew and every Magpies fan are still waiting for Papiss Cissé to score his first goal of the season. Paul Dummett, Steven Taylor, Ryan Taylor and Massadio Haidara casualties must be causing Pardew some headaches. Fabricio Coloccini could start on Sunday and Cheick Tiote is also a possibility.
Probable lineup: Krul – Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon – Sissoko, Cabaye, Tioté, Gouffran – Loic Remy, Papiss Cissé.
The Spurs have won the last four times Newcastle visited White Hart Lane, scored 10 goals and conceded a single one. They should be confidant then. But lately the home games have had some tension between the the team and their fans. Considering past records the Magpies should fear this travel but they are flying high due to the shocking win over Chelsea. Odds give Tottenham an sure victory but circumstances can turn this fixture upside down.
