Friday, May 6, 2011

| by

0

07.05. (Sat) 18:30 Tottenham Hotspur - Blackpool



DID YOU KNOW?

* Blackpool netted three goals from just four shots on target when these sides met in February.

* The last four Premier League games involving Tottenham have seen a total of 18 goals scored, an average of 4.5 a game.

* In the Premier League, Tottenham have lost 21 games and conceded 77 goals in the month of May; both more than any other team.

* The Tangerines have won possession with 76 per cent of their tackles in the Premier League this season; a higher success rate than any other side.

* Much maligned for their form of late, Spurs have not lost any of their last five games at White Hart Lane, and have only lost once at home all season - a record bettered by only Manchester United.

* On the other hand, Blackpool have not won in their last five away games, picking up just one point in the process.

* Charlie Adam (pictured right) is the Premier League's second most fouled player this year, being on the receiving end 86 times.

* Heurelho Gomes has now made five errors leading to goals in the league this season, joining West Ham United's Robert Green at the top of the list.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Tottenham (4-4-1-1)
Gomes; Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas, Corluka; Lennon, Modric, Sandro, Bale; Van der Vaart; Defoe.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Tom Huddlestone will likely continue their respective spells on the sidelines. Younes Kaboul again comes in, with Sandro keeping his place after his wonder goal against Chelsea.

Jermain Defoe looked sharp against the Blues and he might come in at the expense of Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Blackpool (4-3-3)
Gilks; Eardley, Evatt, Baptiste, Crainey; Southern, Vaughan, Adam; Phillips, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell.

David Carney and Chris Basham are still out, so manager Ian Holloway will probably keep the faith with the team that has picked up two draws on the trot recently.

Prediction
Spurs may have recorded five draws out of their last seven outings, but a Blackpool double over the north London club seems unlikely at best.

With both sides embarking on a withering end of season run, it has become clear that each has over-performed this term.

But with Spurs still in the hunt for European qualification - maybe not quite of the type they were after - they should have enough inspiration to overcome the visitors.

Tottenham 3-1 Blackpool