chrissivad
Staff
- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham v Bolton
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 1 May 2010 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: 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
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Spurs look to stay in fourth with win against Wanderers
Tottenham v Bolton
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 1 May 2010 Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: 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
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Spurs look to stay in fourth with win against Wanderers
2[ar]
Tottenham have the chance to consolidate their position in the Premier League's top four when Bolton travel to White Hart Lane.
The race for the final UEFA Champions League place is coming to a close but a number of teams are still in the hunt for that much-coveted spot among Europe's elite next season.
Spurs are currently level on points with Aston Villa
Villa travel to Eastlands on Saturday to take on City and a win for either side could potentially be the nail in the coffin for their opponents' top-four hopes - Tottenham will want to take advantage and secure three points against Bolton.
Liverpool are not out of it just yet either and trail Spurs by two points having played a game more, although they face a tough test this weekend as Chelsea are the visitors to Anfield.
So while Tottenham are in pole position at this moment in time, a slip-up against the Trotters could prove disastrous with their rivals ready to pounce on any lost ground.
Bolton have assured safety this term under the stewardship of Owen Coyle,
The threat of relegation was looming large over the club in the winter but Coyle has steered them clear of the drop zone, with former side Burnley sliding into the Championship.
Wanderers are 14th in the table and are not able to finish any higher as they trail Stoke by seven points with just two games remaining.
So it will be interesting to see if Coyle's men play with their usual tempo and hunger, as the campaign is effectively over for them.
On the other hand, with the threat of relegation now taken away, Bolton may play with a creative freedom now the shackles have been removed.
Team news
Tottenham come into the game on a good run of form, although they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United last time out.
However, this was preceded by victories against Arsenal and Chelsea at home, and Harry Redknapp's side have only conceded 12 goals at the Lane all season - the joint best defensive record in the top-flight.
Redknapp could start Aaron Lennon on the right wing after the England international came off the bench at Old Trafford.
Ledley King with his recurrent injury problems will be given a late test, having found the net with a header against the Red Devils.
But with Spurs going to Manchester City next weekend for what could be a top-four win-or-bust game, Redknapp may opt to rest King.
Niko Kranjcar, Vedran Corluka and long-term absentees Jonathan Woodgate and Carlo Cudicini remain sidelined.
Stuart Holden could make his return to action for Bolton sooner than expected.
Holden has been out for two months after fracturing his fibula while on international duty with the United States, but will undergo a late fitness test having taken part in training this week.
Ricardo Gardner is a doubt with a leg problem, as are Andy O'Brien and Chris Basham as they continue their recovery from thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Coyle will definitely be without long-term absentees Gavin McCann, Joey O'Brien and Sean Davis.
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BBC Preview
2[ar]
Tottenham have to decide whether to play Ledley King against Bolton or save him for the crucial midweek trip to Manchester City.
Spurs may hand Aaron Lennon his first start of 2010 following his return from a persistent groin injury.
Bolton's Stuart Holden could return to action for the first time since he fractured his fibula two months ago.
Manager Owen Coyle has injury doubts over Chris Basham, Ricardo Gardner and Andy O'Brien.
Tottenham
Doubtful: King (knee)
Injured: Corluka & Kranjcar (both ankle), Cudicini (broken wrists), Woodgate (groin)
Bolton
Doubtful: Basham (thigh), Gardner & Holden (both leg), A O'Brien (knee)Injured: Davis & McCann (both ankle), J O'Brien (knee)
Match Preview
2[ar]
Tottenham's race for the final Champions League spot is entering the final furlong and the finishing post is in sight.
Seven points from their final three games would not only secure fourth place, but would also give them their best points return in a league season for 25 years.
White Hart Lane will be a pit of nerves. Tottenham fans know that although three points against Bolton are crucial, Wednesday's encounter away at their rivals for fourth, Manchester City, is the one they must not lose.
The Trotters are always tricky customers and will not be a pushover, despite Owen Coyle's men securing their top-flight status last weekend.
Coyle, though, refused to celebrate and banned talk of champagne, saying his aspirations for the club are higher than just staying in the league.
His opposite number, Harry Redknapp, may be casting anxious glances at his watch during the first half at White Hart Lane, but it will have nothing to do with the events on the pitch. His horse, Arry's Orse, competes in the first classic of the flat racing season at Newmarket.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• This will be the 98th league meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 42 of those, Bolton 36 and there have been 19 draws.
• Away victories are rare in this fixture. Bolton have won only twice in 10 league visits to White Hart Lane in the Premier League and Spurs have won just once in 11 trips to the Reebok Stadium.
• Four of the last seven meetings between these sides have ended in a draw, but Tottenham beat Bolton 4-0 in February in an FA Cup fifth-round replay at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham
• They have won seven of their last nine league matches, but have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight league games.
• Spurs have given away nine penalties in the league this season, a joint-high.
• When Harry Redknapp's team have scored two or more goals in their home games this season they have won the match, but when they have scored fewer than two they haven't won.
• If selected, Jermain Defoe will be making his 400th career appearance. His present tally comprises; 105 matches for West Ham, 31 at Bournemouth, 36 for Portsmouth and 227 in two spells at Tottenham, scoring 169 goals in total.
Bolton
• Bolton have failed to score in seven of their last nine away matches in the league.
• The Trotters won 18 points this season in the 18 games Gary Megson was in charge of and they have 18 points from the 18 matches since Owen Coyle has been at the helm.
• Kevin Davies has scored six league goals against Spurs - a total he has only bettered against Aston Villa and West Ham.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Tottenham
Defoe: 24 goals (18 league); Crouch: 12 goals (7 league)...
Bolton
M Taylor: 8 goals (8 league); K Davies: 8 goals (6 league)...
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant referees: John Flynn & Shaun Procter-Green
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
MOST RECENT MEETING
Tottenham 4-0 Bolton FA Cup
Bolton 2-2 Tottenham (3 October 2009)
Bolton scorers: Gardner 4, Davies 69
Tottenham scorers: Kranjcar 34, Corluka 73
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