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- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham Hotspur v FC Twente
Champions League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Wednesday 29 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Wednesday 29 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live and live on Sky Sports 2
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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2[ar]
Spurs go in search of first Group A win
Tottenham will aim to build on a promising start to UEFA Champions League Group A by picking up their first win against FC Twente.
Spurs looked set to collect three points from their opening fixture away to Werder Bremen before surrendering a two-goal lead to finish with a draw.
Avoiding defeat in Germany was still not a bad result and it is home form that usually proves the difference between qualifying or not in Europe's premier competition.
The crowd at White Hart Lane is sure to be in good voice on a special night for the club andHarry Redknapp will therefore be demanding full focus and an improved performance from his men, especially after an inconsistent run in the Premier League.
Tottenham have lost their last two domestic matches, against London rivals Arsenal and West Ham, so Redknapp could decide to make changes to his starting XI.
Sebastien Bassong has been the only fit senior centre-back in recent weeks and Ledley King (knee and groin) remains doubtful.
Younes Kaboul has also suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem and looks set to miss out, while William Gallas (groin) and Michael Dawson (knee) are definite absentees.
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is back in contention after more than a month out with a groin injury, but Carlo Cudicini is likely to keep his place for now after some impressive recent displays.
Redknapp must also decide whether to go with a 4-4-2 formation or 4-5-1, but the manager has backed winger Aaron Lennon to find form after a quiet start to the campaign.
Jamie O'Hara
Twente news
Dutch champions FC Twente
They have followed that with two draws in the Eredivisie, where they are unbeaten so far this term and fourth in the table after seven matches.
Michel Preud'homme, who replaced Steve McClaren
He said: "You find pain points, pain points for the other team, points where you can hurt them
"It's in our nature to play football, not to kill the game."
Preud'homme's biggest concern is at left-back where both Dwight Tiendalli and Bart Buysse are sidelined.
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2[ar]
Tottenham have only one recognised centre-back in Sebastien Bassong for Wednesday's visit of Dutch champions FC Twente in the Champions League.
Williams Gallas, Ledley King (both groin), Michael Dawson (knee and ankle) and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) are all sidelined with injury.
Right-back Vedran Corluka could feature while keeper Heurelho Gomes may return after more than a month out (groin).
England striker Jermain Defoe also misses out with ankle ligament damage.
Despite the injury crisis, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said his side would be looking to attack in the Group A encounter in order to seal their first Champions League win.
"We have to go for it," stated Redknapp. "Getting a win is all important, if we get a win it sets us up nearly nicely. The group is wide open on one point each at the moment.
"Inter Milan are obviously the favourites but after that it is wide open. We have looked at a couple of Twente's games on video and they have one or two really good players.
2[ar]
"But at home, the crowd are up and it will be an intimidating atmosphere like against Young Boys [the Swiss side Spurs beat to reach the group stage proper] and we attacked them and got after them from the start.
"That is what we have to do in these [home] European games, especially in this group.
"In Milan you might set up differently. If you play some teams you would not be playing 4-4-2 or you would get ripped to pieces."
Meanwhile, Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart said he hoped his experience in Europe would rub off on the rest of his team.
"I have a lot of experience in the Champions League," stated 27-year-old midfielder Van der Vaart, who joined Spurs from Real Madrid in the summer.
"I have played with Ajax in the Champions League, and Hamburg and Madrid. I hope I can help the team and I'm sure I can."
"He will do well for us," said Redknapp. "I have been really impressed with him. He is a good lad, he wants to play, he wants to win and has got a good attitude.
"He's got 80 caps for his country and you don't get them if you are a mug."
Van der Vaart's importance to the side has increased as winger Aaron Lennon has suffered a slump in form that has seen him lose his place in the England squad.
"I think it's about confidence," Redknapp explained. "You've got to keep working with him because, when he's on his game he's a top-class wide player, so we need to get him back to doing that again."
Tottenham and Twente both drew their opening group games 2-2 - Spurs gave away a two-goal lead away to Werder Bremen while Twente managed a creditable point at home to reigning champions Inter Milan.
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