- Jul 27, 2004
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It is the reverse fixtures from the opening day of the season and a day I think we would all love to forget. At the Lane we should be to strong for Sunderland but, we are Tottenham and we never make it easy for ourselves.
The Official Site Team News:
Steed Malbranque is suspended and has to sit out Saturday's match against Sunderland at the Lane.
The French midfielder has been in fine form but serves a one-match ban after accumulating five yellow cards.
However, it's a case of one in, one out as Tom Huddlestone returns from his three-match suspension.
Darren Bent has yet to recover from the knee injury that has kept him out since Boxing Day and remains on the sidelines with Gareth Bale (foot), Anthony Gardner (ankle) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee).
Skysports.com Preview:
Sunderland take on Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday hoping to repeat their sensational start to the Premier League season.
The Black Cats recorded a last-gasp win over Spurs in their first game on their return to the top flight when Michael Chopra struck in injury time at the Stadium of Light in August.
And Roy Keane's side will settle for a repeat in North London as they go in search of their first league away win of the season.
Tottenham, though, are unlikely to be in a welcoming mood and Spurs will hope to avenge their opening day defeat while also continuing their renaissance under Juande Ramos.
Welcome back
The Tottenham manager will welcome back Tom Huddlestone after the midfielder completed a three-match suspension in Spurs' last game against Reading in the FA Cup.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson will hope to return to the squad after missing the replay against Reading as his wife had just given birth, but the shot-stopper is again expected to miss out on a starting place as Ramos continues to add his personal touch to Spurs.
That will mean Radek Cerny is again named No.1 after impressing on his recent performances between the Spurs sticks.
Ledley King is expected to return after being rested against the Royals, while star striker Dimitar Berbatov, who missed the trip to the Madejski with the flu, should also start.
International duty
Didier Zokora is on international duty and Darren Bent (knee) has been struggling, while Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle) are out.
Sunderland will definitely be without Ross Wallace after Keane was hit by the news that the winger will be out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
Anthony Stokes hopes to earn a run in attack after impressing in the victory over Portsmouth, while new signing Jean-Yves M'voto could be named in Keane's squad.
The former Paris Saint-Germain defender recently agreed a three-and-a-half year contract at the Stadium of Light and is hoping to earn a starting role as Sunderland attempt to escape relegation.
Paul McShane and Jonny Evans will also be competing for a place in defence following the latter's arrival from Manchester United at the beginning of the transfer window.
Dickson Etuhu is away with Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations and will definitely be missing, but Keane will hope for positive news regarding the availability of Danny Higginbotham and Chopra.
BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):
Tottenham Squad (from): Cerny, Robinson, Forecast, Chimbonda, Lee, Gunter, Stalteri, King, Kaboul, Dawson, Rocha, Huddlestone, Jenas, Boateng, O'Hara, Tainio, Taarabt, Lennon, Malbranque, Defoe, Keane, Berbatov, Bent.
Sunderland Squad (from): Gordon, Ward, McShane, Halford, Harte, Evans, Collins, Yorke, Whitehead, Richardson, O'Donovan, Jones, Chopra, Waghorn, Murphy, Stokes, Cole.
Interesting Stats:
Spurs and Sunderland are meeting for the 100th time in a competitive match, and we are aiming to maintain their 100% home record in the Premier League against the Black Cats with a seventh successive victory.
The Wearsiders have lost the last 13 Premier League visits to London, and not won in 21 since defeating Chelsea 2-4 on 17 March 2001.
We have not lost three league games on the spin since 1 February 2005.
We have won all three games in which a clean sheet has been kept, and not lost a league match this season by more than a two-goal margin.
Sunderland need a draw to total 250 Premier League points, from their 251st match.
Over a third of Sunderlands Premier League goals have been scored in the last 10 minutes (eight of 22, 36%).
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Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 15:00 GMT - check [thread=25787]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the banner below.[/SIZE]
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[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the banner below.[/SIZE]
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