- Jul 27, 2004
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After an unconvincing win over struggling Championship outfit Blackpool, Spurs arrive at ICI Central in need of a win. It maybe to much to hope that with so little time to drill the defense I can only see goals in this match let just hope we score one more than Middlebrough.
The Official Site Team News:
No Team news as of yet :shrug:
Skysports.com Preview:
Juande Ramos takes charge of his first Premier League game when Tottenham travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Spaniard, who presided over Wednesday's 2-0 Carling Cup victory over Blackpool at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, must lift Spurs out of the relegation places after an unhappy start to the season under Martin Jol.
Spurs' last, and only, Premier League victory came back on August 18 when Derby were brushed aside 4-0 at White Hart Lane.
Ramos' first challenge will be resolving the defensive frailty which has dogged Spurs all season, with only The Rams having shipped more goals than the North London outfit.
Defensive woes
The absence of captain and key centre-back Ledley King has been keenly felt, and although the England international is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from summer knee surgery he is still not ready to return.
Anthony Gardner is facing six weeks on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in the Uefa Cup defeat by Getafe, with Ricardo Rocha (ankle) another long-term absentee.
Gareth Bale has been jogging this week after his foot injury and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (ankle) is running again but neither player will be in the travelling party for the trip to the Riverside Stadium.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson returned to the side in place of Radek Cerny after a three-match absence with a calf injury and will confident of keeping his place after a clean sheet and one stunning save against Blackpool.
Mido out
Middlesbrough have relegation fears of their own and would slip into the bottom three if they are beaten by Spurs.
Gareth Southgate's men have taken just one point from their last six matches and have not enjoyed the winning feeling since 1st September when Birmingham were beaten 2-0.
Striker Mido misses out on a meeting with his former club as he continues to be hampered by a groin strain with Southgate unwilling to rush the Egyptian back into the side.
Defender Emanuel Pogatetz returned to action for the reserves in midweek after surgery on both his knees, but needs to build up his fitness before returning to the first team.
Robert Huth (ankle) is pencilled in for a second string outing next week, while Julia Arca (knee) remains on the sidelines.
skysports.com prediction: Middlesbrough 2 Spurs 3
BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):
Tottenham Squad (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Lee, Kaboul, Dawson, Tainio, Jenas, Zokora, Lennon, Malbranque, Boateng, Huddlestone, Taarabt, Routledge, Bent, Defoe, Berbatov, Keane.
Middlesbrough Squad (from): Schwarzer, Young, Taylor, Woodgate, Wheater, Cattermole, Rochemback, O'Neil, Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Turnbull, Riggott, Hines, Boateng, Lee, Hutchinson, Craddock.
Interesting Stats:
After watching his new side beat Blackpool in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, Juande Ramos takes charge of Tottenham for the first time in a Premier League match; Gareth Southgate sends out a Middlesbrough side for the 50th time for league action.
This match brings together the club with joint most losses in the top division, and one with joint fewest wins; needless to say both Middlesbrough and Tottenham are suffered their worst ever starts to a Premier League campaign.
Spurs only maximum in eight Premier League trips to the north-east was 2-3 against Middlesbrough on 28 April; but the Teessiders have scored more goals in this league against Tottenham than any other club (33).
Tottenham did the double over Middlesbrough last season and have not lost in four Premier League matches against them. They also knocked them out at the third round stage of this season's Carling Cup with unanswered goals from Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone.
Team:
Subs: Cerny, Zokora, Stalteri, Berbatov, Keane.
3
Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 15:00 GMT - check [thread=22581]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.