EPL Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Newcastle United
Tottenham go into the midweek Premier League fixture sitting at fourth spot in the English Premier League table. They will be looking to improve upon their position when they host Newcastle United on Tuesday.
The Spurs won their previous match against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, despite having to manage most of the match with only ten men. Newcastle on the other hand, succumbed to defeat in dismal fashion at the hands of Manchester City. It was Alan Pardew’s first
defeat in charge of the Magpies.
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham boss will be looking to capitalise on Newcastle’s defeat, but will have warned his team to be wary of in-form striker Andy Carroll who is surrounded by a speculated move to White Hart Lane in the January transfer window.
Both teams have played eighteen games this season, with Tottenham acquiring thirty-three points as opposed to Newcastle’s twenty-two. The Magpies sit on the ninth spot in the Premier League table having won six matches and drawn four this season. The Spurs
have won eight matches and drawn six in their campaign so far.
Alan Pardew’s team have sustained eight losses, which is twice the amount of defeats that Redknapp’s men have seen this season. The Magpies have twenty-eight goals under their belt, which is one more than the Spurs have managed. The London team have conceded
twenty-three goals compared to Newcastle’s twenty-nine.
Newcastle boss Pardew replaced http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chris-c9006 Hughton at the Tyneside club recently and the Englishman’s personal record against Tottenham does not overwhelmingly favour any side much. While managing West Ham in 2005-06, Pardew’s team beat Tottenham in the final
match of the season, resulting in the Spurs being unable to secure a position to play in the UEFA Champions League. Tottenham came back to haunt Pardew when he was manager of Charlton Athletic in 2007, defeating his side by two goals to nil and resulting in
Pardew’s team being relegated from the Premier League.
Tottenham have much reason to be confident as they have only been defeated once in their previous twenty games in the League at home. The defeat they endured at White Hart Lane was at the hands of Bolton, who won the match by a single goal in August.
The Spurs remain undefeated in nine league and cup games played at home, after being defeated by Arsenal 4-1 in the Carling Cup competition. The London club however, have not won any of their previous five matches against teams that have been newly promoted
to the Premier League. The last game they won against a promoted side was against Burnley in the previous season- a game which saw Tottenham scoring five times.
The Spurs must improve their defensive record if they are to acquire a convincing result against the Magpies as they have been unable to sustain a clean sheet since the first day of the season.
Newcastle will be looking to brush up their away form as the Tyneside club have been defeated in their previous two away League games, and have had a total of eight goals scored against them.
Pardew’s team have a notable record against London teams this season, having being victorious against West Ham and Arsenal and drawing against Fulham and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in their campaign. Newcastle will be looking towards Carroll for inspiration and the Englishman
has proved to be particularly good in the air, having scored five headers from his eleven goals in the League this season.
The Spurs will have to do without http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jermain-Defoe-c18359, as the player begins his suspension. Luca Modric may play this fixture, in spite of reports that he suffered a cramp in the previous match. Newcastle will be without their skipper, Kevin Nolan, who was booked
for the fifth time in this campaign when playing against Manchester City.
Tags: