Sunday, March 6, 2011

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06-03-2011 17:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Tottenham Hotspur

DID YOU KNOW?
Wolves scored from their only shot on target earlier this season at White Hart Lane - Steven Fletcher tapping in from Kevin Foley's cross in the 3-1 loss.
Six of Wolves’ eight wins have come in matches against teams in the top half of the table.
Mick McCarthy's men have only failed to score in two of their last 14 league matches at Molineux.
The Midlands team have made Molineux somewhat of a fortress in their battle to survive in the Premier League - winning five and losing two of their last seven league games at home.
Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who came off the bench to net twice in last weekend's 4-0 win against Blackpool, has scored four goals as a substitute - more than any other player in the Premier League this season.
Wolves have won three of their four home matches against the teams currently in the top five while Spurs have won none of their three away games against the bottom five.
Tottenham are renowned as a team that like to attack, and Harry Redknapp's side have only failed to score in two of their last 20 league matches away from White Hart Lane.
However, defensively they have not been quite as impressive - keeping just one clean sheet in their last 14 Premier League away matches.
Remarkably Spurs have scored a 90th minute goal in three of their last five league games.
Spurs have committed 292 fouls this season - that is the lowest number by any of the 20 Premier League teams.

LAST MEETING
September 18, 2010: Tottenham 3-1 Wolves

Rafael van der Vaart scored his first Spurs' goal from the penalty spot as Harry Redknapp's men came from behind against Mick McCarthy's spirited side.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Wolves (4-4-2): Hennessey; Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi; Foley, Henry, Edwards, Jarvis; Milijas; Doyle.

Tottenham: (4-4-1-1): Gomes; Gallas, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Pienaar; Modric; Crouch.

Wayne Hennessey13
Ronald Zubar23
Richard Stearman5
Christophe  Berra16
George Elokobi3
Kevin  Foley32
Karl Henry8
David Edwards4
Matthew Jarvis17
Nenad Milijas20
Kevin Doyle29
Gomes1
William Gallas13
Michael Dawson20
Sébastien Bassong19
Benoit Assou-Ekotto32
Aaron Lennon7
Jermaine Jenas8
Wilson Palacios12
Steven Pienaar10
Luka Modric14
Peter Crouch15
Prediction
I expect an open, attacking game - with both teams looking to play an attractive brand of football. While Mick McCarthy is renowned for creating sides that battle for every ball, Wolves have added some technical players to their ranks and in Matt Jarvis have someone who is capable of creating chance after chance. 

For all their hard work, Wolves are similar to Spurs in that both teams are fragile at the back. Whether it is Harry Redknapp's unsettled back four or the concentration lapses by Wolves' Richard Stearman, neither side look capable of keeping a clean sheet.

Wolves will be confident after their impressive form of late and Molineux has become something of a fortress for McCarthy's men, but I expect the quality of Steven Pienaar, Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon to make the difference in what should be a fascinating encounter.
Editor's Prediction
 Wolves1
Tottenham 2