- May 20, 2005
- 51,646
- 58,072
- Staff
- #1
__________________________________________________
Stoke v Tottenham
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC London 94.9 FM, DAB, DSAT & Online; BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Click Here
_______________________________________
Stoke v Tottenham
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 20 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC London 94.9 FM, DAB, DSAT & Online; BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Click Here
_______________________________________
Potters entertain high-flying North Londoners
2[ar]
Tottenham will be looking to cement fourth place in the Premier League when they take on Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Three consecutive league wins see Spurs one point clear of Liverpool and two clear of Man City, although Roberto Mancini's side have a game in hand.
The race for the final UEFA Champions League place could not be tighter and Spurs can ill-afford to drop any points at Stoke.
However, Tony Pulis' men are tough nuts to crack, especially at home as Stoke have lost just four times in 15 league outings at the Britannia.
Indeed Stoke have a better record than most in Premier League action against Spurs as they have won two of their three top-flight meetings, including a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane earlier this season courtesy of Glen Whelan's late winner.
Stoke news
Pulis' biggest dilemma is whether to recall Ryan Shawcross from suspension. The 22-year-old was banned for the red card he picked up in his tackle with Aaron Ramsey.
The Potters boss could maintain a settled backline although Shawcross is likely to partner Robert Huth at the back with Danny Collins making way and Danny Higginbotham reverting to left-back.
Whelan, who scored the winner against Spurs earlier this season is a fitness doubt, so Liam Lawrence is on stand-by to return to Stoke's starting line-up.
Should Whelan miss out then Dean Whitehead will switch from the right to partner Rory Delap in central midfield. That gives Lawrence a chance on the right, although he will have to keep a watchful eye on Spurs midfielder Gareth Bale.
Ricardo Fuller could be given the chance to start after Tuncay's reaction to being substituted against Aston Villa while Mamady Sidibe should be given the deep-lying striker job.
Spurs news
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is forced into one change after confirming that Jermaine Defoe will be out for a "few weeks" after tearing his hamstring.
With star striker Defoe on the sidelines Peter Crouch is sure to partner Roman Pavlyuchenko up front, although Eidur Gudjohnsen is also another option for Redknapp.
Bale is certain to continue on the left wing after he caused all sorts of problems for Rovers in last weekend's 3-1 win ahead of the energetic Benoit Assou-Ekotto .
With Aaron Lennon and David Bentley still on the sidelines, Niko Kranjcar should keep his right-wing berth playing in front of compatriot Vedran Corluka
PREDICTIONS
Skysports.com's prediction: Stoke 1 Spurs 1
SKY BET Odds: Stoke 5/2, Draw 9/4, Spurs 11/10
One to Watch: Gareth Bale
__________________________________________________
BBC Preview
Stoke's Ryan Shawcross, who has completed a three-match ban for his sending off against Arsenal, is a slight doubt with an ankle problem.
2[ar]
Potters manager Tony Pulis must decide whether to recall the defender or keep faith with the back four that kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says striker Jermain Defoe will be out for "a few weeks" with a hamstring injury.
Jermaine Jenas (groin) will not be risked despite returning to training.
Stoke
Suspended: Shawcross (ankle)
Injured: Beattie (knee), Diao (calf)
Tottenham
Suspended: None
Injured: Bentley, Jenas, Lennon & Woodgate (all groin), Cudicini (broken wrists), Defoe (hamstring), Huddlestone (ankle), King (thigh), Rose (knee), Walker (arm)
MATCH PREVIEW
The last time Tottenham won at Stoke was 25 years ago, when Garth Crooks got the only goal against his hometown club. That season Spurs finished inside the top four (behind Everton and Liverpool in third place), so another win in the Potteries would be an encouraging omen for Harry Redknapp's Champions League hopefuls.
The trip to Stoke should provide a litmus test of Tottenham's top-four credentials. Few teams rule the Britannia these days, but title contenders Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all dug deep to claim maximum points there.
In contrast, the chasing pack all fluffed their lines, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa taking just a point at Stoke. Therein lies the difference between the Premier League A-list and the best supporting actors.
Having snatched the points at White Hart Lane in October, Stoke are chasing a first league double against Spurs.
Potters manager Tony Pulis insists he would have no qualms about recalling defender Ryan Shawcross, who has served a three-game ban for his leg-breaking tackle on Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey. Shawcross left the pitch in tears on his last appearance at the Britannia, but can be sure of a good reaction from the Stoke fans.
It will be interesting to see if the same is true of team-mate Tuncay after his temper tantrum last weekend. The Turk stomped down the tunnel after being substituted against Aston Villa, but Pulis says he has no problem with the striker's action
2[ar]
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Stoke won this fixture 2-1 last season, in what proved to be Juande Ramos' final league match as Tottenham manager.
• Spurs recorded their joint-biggest away win in top-flight football when they won 6-1 at the Victoria Ground on 15 September 1951.
Stoke
• Stoke won this fixture 2-1 last season, in what proved to be Juande Ramos' final league match as Tottenham manager.
• Spurs recorded their joint-biggest away win in top-flight football when they won 6-1 at the Victoria Ground on 15 September 1951.
Tottenham
• Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe have scored 14 out of Tottenham's last 17 goals in all competitions.
• Spurs have won only one of the nine league games in which they conceded the opening goal.
• They are chasing a fourth successive league win.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
....................................................................
Stoke
Kitson: 7 goals (5 league - 3 for Middlesbrough);
Fuller: 6 goals (1 league)
Tottenham
Defoe: 23 goals (17 league); Crouch 10 goals (5 league)
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Adam Watts
Fourth official: Chris Foy
MOST RECENT MEETING
Tottenham 0-1 Stoke City (24 October 2009)
Stoke scorer: Whelan 86
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Not at the match and looking for somewhere to talk to others while the game unfolds. Head into the Match day chat room with the other SC'ers