Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United: English Premier League - match preview
Tottenham will look to get their English Premier League campaign back on track as they host West Ham United on Saturday, 19th March. Both teams have had very different seasons thus far, so let’s shed some light on how both the outfits might line-up
at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Hotspur
Hotspur currently occupy the fifth place spot in the English Premier League rankings but Harry Redknapp has stated over and over again that his team’s main goal is to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-2012 season by finishing fourth in the
2010-2011 Premier league season. After qualifying for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League by securing a nil all draw against AC Milan in their last match, Tottenham now must turn their attention towards domestic matters.
Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Redknapp’s team have won three, drawn one and lost one. Their last match in the English Premier League ended in a three all draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Already falling behind http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the race for
a fourth place finish, Tottenham must step on the pedal now or fade behind into obscurity.
West Ham United
In the relegation zone and in a massive battle for survival in the English Premier League, West Ham United enter into a decisive period of their Premier League season. With this tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane they are in for a fight. Presently
18th in the Premier League table, Avram Grant’s men have won three, drawn one and lost one out of their last five competitive fixtures.
Their last match in the Premier League ended in a morale boosting win for the Hammers as West Ham bested a resolute Stoke City side at Britannia stadium. A win against their London neighbours will propel West Ham towards temporary safety but only if other
results go their way on the weekend.
Team News
Tottenham have a fully fit http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-Woodgate-c19069 and Sebastian Bassong are still on the sidelines due to their respective injury
problems.
Expected Tottenham Hotspur line up: Gomez, Hutton, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Sandro, Modric, Van Der Vaart, Bale, Defoe, Crouch
On the other hand, West Ham United are still trying to incorporate the freshly fit http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robbie-Keane-c31215 who is sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Expected West Ham United line up: Green, Spector, Upson, Tomkins, Bridge, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Obinna, Cole, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Demba-Ba-c10812, Noble
Key Players
Tottenham will bank on the creative influence of Rafael Van Der Vaart once more. The Dutchman has proved to be an immaculate stroke of transfer business ever since his arrival in London in the summer of 2010. With eleven goals to his name already, expect
Van Der Vaart to cash in on an assist or two on Saturday evening.
Alternatively, West Ham United’s main man will be their midfielder Scott Parker. Parker had a bright run of form earlier on in the season but he has faded away since then. If West Ham need to maintain their Premier League credentials then Parker will have
to perform out of his skin to spur them onwards.
Prediction
Tottenham’s home turf makes them the favourites to win this tie despite West Ham’s desperate condition at the bottom of the Premier League table. 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur
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