High flying Tottenham will be hoping to make it six Premier League wins in a row against lowly Bolton at White Hart Lane on Saturday and close the gap on second placed Manchester United.
Spurs have been in blistering form since losing their opening two games of the season winning eight of their last nine league games and rising to third in the table ahead of North London rivals Arsenal. Harry Redknapp’s side have been simply brilliant over the last month sweeping all that dare to step in their way as they home in on a title challenge with Manchester City. With a game in hand and sitting only two points behind the Champions it seems that Spurs should now be considered real candidates to challenge for the Premier League crown going into a relatively easy festive period. Games against Bolton, Stoke, Sunderland, Swansea and Norwich are all forthcoming in December and whilst they aren’t exactly easy fixtures the mood Redknapp’s side are in at the moment should see them come away victorious in all four. Their last two wins against West Brom and Aston Villa have seen Emmanuel Adebayor get back on the goals trail after a six game drought with his last strike coming in mid-September. The on loan Manchester City striker has proved to be a shrewd signing by Redknapp with his strength in the final third making him the perfect Spurs target man. His link up with Rafael Van Der Vaart and Gareth Bale has proved to be a key aspect of their recent winning streak. He won the game against Villa with two goals before scoring another double last weekend to put West Brom to the sword. More of the same will be expected to push Bolton further into the relegation mire.
The Trotters have suffered an awful start to the season winning just three of their 13 games which has seen them slide down the table and into the drop zone. It was thought Owen Coyle’s side had turned a corner after beating Stoke 5-0 at home earlier in November but two defeats in a row since then has seen the confidence levels rapidly decrease once again. It’s been a hard start to the season for Bolton and although they have played a majority of last season’s top six in their opening 13 games it’s defeats at the hands of teams like Norwich and Swansea that have alarmed supporters. At this stage last season there was talk of European qualification with the Trotters riding high under Coyle in the top half of the table but 12 months on and it’s a totally different story. Their form at home is becoming a major worry with that win against the Potters their only success in seven attempts at the Reebok. It was the same old story last time out against Everton with sub-standard defending and a glut of missed chances costing the Trotters the chance to edge themselves away from trouble. Both of the Toffee’s goals could have been avoided but that lack of concentration and cohesion at the back is proving to be damaging. They’ve kept only two clean sheets in the league this season and if they continue to defend like they are then it’s going to be a very tough winter. Coyle needs his experienced players like captain Kevin Davies, Gary Cahill, Nigel Reo-Coker and Jussi Jaaskelainen to stand up and be counted in the dressing room and on the field if Bolton are to fight their way out of this slump.
Tottenham – 3rd
Last Five: Won 3-1 v West Brom, Won 2-0 v Aston Villa (A), Won 3-1 v Fulham (A), Won 3-1 v QPR (H), Won 2-1 v Blackburn (A)
Potential Starting X11: 24. B. Friedel 28. K. Walker 26. L. King [C] 4. Y. Kaboul 32. B. Assou Ekotto 7. A. Lennon 14. L. Modric 8. S. Parker 3. G. Bale 18. J. Defoe 10. E. Adebayor*
Injury News: Redknapp will be missing Rafael Van Der Vaart who has a hamstring injury with the Dutchman joining William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone in the treatment room.
Key Player: Emmanuel Adebayor
Four goals in a week and two match winning performances up front underline the role of importance Adebayor holds in Tottenham’s attack. The on loan striker has filled Redknapp’s requirement for a target man with aplomb since his temporary move from Manchester City and he scored twice in each of the last to games against Aston Villa and Fulham. Will be expected to continue his hot streak against Bolton on Saturday.
Match Fact: Tottenham enjoy the visits of Bolton having remained unbeaten against them at White Hart Lane in 11 Premier League meetings. Spurs have won eight times in North London since they first contested a top flight fixture way back in 1997.
Bolton – 18th
Last Five: Lost 2-0 v Everton (H), Lost 2-1 v West Brom (A), Won 5-0 v Stoke (H), Lost 3-1 v Swansea (A), Lost 2-0 v Sunderland (H)
Potential Starting X11: 22. J. Jaaskelainen 2. G. Steinsson 5. G. Cahill 12. Z. Knight 4. P. Robinson 7. C. Eagles* 6. F. Muamba 19. N. Reo Coker 19. M. Davies 17. I. Klasnic 14. K. Davies [C]
Injury News: Bolton are without youngster Joe Riley who joins six other first team players on the sidelines for the trip to North London on Saturday.
Key Player: Gary Cahill
With Bolton currently stranded deep in the relegation mire and looking genuine candidates for the drop this season the Trotters need their biggest names to step up and perform. Cahill is one of those names who needs to start performing on a consistent basis and his defensive abilities will come into play on Sunday. Cutting out the threat of Adebayor and Defoe will be a hugely difficult task but one that the England international is more than capable of handling.
Match Fact: The prospect of facing Tottenham at White Hart will leave Bolton quaking in their boots due to the fact they’ve won only two out of 11 in North London with last victory in the capital coming on 23rd October 2004. Interestingly they beat Spurs on their own patch a year earlier on 1st November 2003.
Last Time at White Hart Lane
Premier League 5 February 2011
Tottenham 2-1 Bolton
Van Der Vaart, 6 (Pen) Kranjcar, 90
Sturridge, 55
Attendance: 36,197
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
PREDICTION
Tottenham are hot at the moment and are brushing teams aside like they aren’t there with their devastating mix of pace, power and elegance. Adebayor has finally started to score again whilst Scott Parker and Bale are looking unstoppable in midfield at the moment and those two should rule over Bolton this weekend. The Trotters have won twice on the road this season but will surely end up on the end of a beating at White Hart Lane. Coyle’s men need to get back to basics and start defending as a unit although thats easier said than done against a Spurs side who have their eyes set Manchester City at the top.
Score: 3-0
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