If Tottenham ever needed reminding of what can happen in the Premier League if you underestimate your opponents, then Saturday’s fixture should really hit home for Harry Redknapp’s side.
Mick McCarthy’s Wolves were the only team, bar Manchester United, to take six points off of last season’s fourth-place finishers, and having already dropped points to Wigan and news boys West Brom – following the goalless draw against Manchester City, which, on chances alone, should have been a monumental victory for Spurs – Redknapp’s side must surely earn maximum points at the Lane this Saturday.
Wolves Aren't Made To Be Broken
Perhaps it’s in their name, but McCarthy’s side have become the ‘new Stoke’ in the eyes of many of football purists. Their heavy handling of Newcastle’s Joey Barton had the critics circling, despite the midfielder's dubious past, and following the unfortunate injury to Fulham’s Bobby Zamora last weekend, the men from Molineux find themselves well and truly filed among the leagues’ ‘anti-fooball’ sides.
The aforementioned match against Chris Hughton’s team aside, Wolves are being tainted by a brush that should be stroked elsewhere.
Yes, they can put their weight around, but in order to avoid becoming yet another of English football’s yo-yo clubs, they need to find their footing, and if competing with full-blooded commitment unsettles their ‘classier’ opponents, then so be it, it works. After all, everyone must walk before they can run.
A Sign Of Things Of To Come?
Saturday’s game is a tough one, for both sides. Spurs should have beaten West Brom last weekend, but had their opponents been equipped with a more competent finisher than Marc-Antoine Fortune, then Redknapp’s men would have left The Hawthorns with nothing. Wolves on the other hand won’t gum their prey. If given the chance, they will bite.
Tottenham cannot afford a European hangover come Saturday.
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham
Redknapp will be hoping that new recruit Rafael van der Vaart can overcome his calf strain in time to feature, having been removed in the opening moments of the second half against Werder Bremen in midweek as a matter of caution. It is more likely, however, that the Dutchman will make his White Hart Lane bow from the bench this week, alongside fellow playmaker, Luka Modric.Ledley King is likely to be rested having played 90 minutes in midweek, so William Gallas is likely to partner Younes Kaboul, after the younger of Spurs’ French defenders continued his positive run in the side, deputising for the injured Michael Dawson. Meanwhile, Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is set to play, with first-choice stopper Heurelho Gomes (groin strain) ruled out.
Having surprised many doubting fans with a cultured performance on Tuesday, Jermaine Jenas could retain his place at the expense of Wilson Palacios, as Redknapp looks for his side to attack from the offset once again. The Spurs boss will most likely return to a 4-4-2 formation; his preferred format when his side are at home.
Probable starting line-up: Cudicini; Corluka, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale; Keane, Crouch.
Wolves
McCarthy continues to be without Ronald Zubar (hamstring) and summer signing Stephen Hunt (metatarsal), while Belgian defender Jelle (not Jean-Claude) Van Damme, misses out with an ankle injury.Furthermore, the former Republic of Ireland boss will not be able to select Chris Berra or Andre Landell, as they continue to serve their respective suspensions following dismissals.
Probable Starting line-up: Hahnemann; Fletcher, Craddock, Ward, Elokobi; Mancienne, Foley, Henry, Jarvis; Ebanks-Blake, Doyle.
Prediction
Tottenham 2-0 Wolves 
