Tottenham Vs Wigan: Match Thread

[chrissivad]

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Tottenham v Wigan

Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 22 November 2009 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC London 94.9 fm, DAB & online, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day 2 (For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Here)

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Tottenham host Wigan on Sunday looking to win to maintain their position in the last UEFA Champions League berth.​

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Harry Redknapp's side head into the weekend holding the last coveted spot after beating Sunderland 2-0 at White Hart Lane in their last outing before the international break.

Redknapp will be looking to push on here against a Wigan side who have lost four times on the road so far this term.

But Roberto Martinez's side are also capable of producing a shock - beating Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, as well as league leaders Chelsea at the DW Stadium - so Redknapp will be warning against complacency.

Wigan also go into the game on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Fulham last time which will have improved confidence after the 4-0 hammering at Portsmouth the game before.

Spurs news

Centre-back Ledley King will miss the game with a hamstring problem.

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric will also be missing as he battles to return from a fractured fibula.

It was originally hoped the Croatian could be in contention to face the Latics but he has yet to resume full training. He has instead been doing steady rehabilitation work in the gym during the international break.

Injured goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is not expected to play again this season after the veteran shot-stopper fractured his wrists and injured his pelvis earlier this month in a motorbike accident.

But the club have not reported injuries to any of their players away on international duty so Redknapp may be tempted to keep the same starting XI which beat the Black Cats last time.


Wigan news

Wigan defender Erik Edman will face his former club on Sunday as he continues to deputise at left-back for the injured Maynor Figueroa.

The Swede made his first Premier League start since the end of last season last time out in the draw at Fulham as Figueroa was sidelined with a knee ligament problem and is still at least a week away from recovery.

Honduras midfielder Hendry Thomas missed his flight back from international duty in Central America on Thursday but will be back in time to train with the squad on Saturday.

PREDICTIONS

Skysports.com prediction: 4-0

SKY BET odds: Spurs 4/9, Draw 3/1, Wigan 15/2

One to Watch: Robbie Keane
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BBC Preview


Tottenham's Aaron Lennon returns following an ankle injury and Sebastien Bassong is also back in the frame after hamstring trouble.
Luka Modric was expected to make his comeback from a broken leg, but neither he or Ledley King are match fit.
Wigan's injury list remains slim with only full-back Maynor Figueroa on the sidelines, so former Spurs player Erik Edman will continue to deputise.
Boss Roberto Martinez may select the same team that drew with Fulham.

Tottenham
Suspended: None Doubtful: Bassong (hamstring), Walker (wrist)
Injured: Cudicini (pelvis and wrists), Giovani (ankle), King (hamstring), Modric (broken leg)
Wigan
Suspended: None Doubtful: None
Injured: Figueroa (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

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Fans of both clubs have been scratching their heads to try and work out the reason why this fixture is being played on a Sunday when it is not being televised..

When the fixture list came out back in June both clubs were concerned vast swathes of their squads could potentially have been embroiled in this week's World Cup play-offs so they came to an agreement that they would give players involved an extra 24 hours to recover.
Robbie Keane, however, may never recover from the heartbreak caused by Thierry Henry's 'Hand Gaul' for France, which denied Ireland a place at the World Cup. But the Spurs skipper must put that to the back of his mind as the hustle and bustle of the Premier League gets going again.
All eyes will be on Wilson Palacios as the Honduran plays against his former club for the first time. The next time the sides clash he could face not only international colleagues Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa, but his brother Jonny after Wigan sent their top scout to watch the 22-year-old right-back play against Peru in midweek.
Wigan's frustrating season has seen them win only once since September and their search for consistency goes on.
Only the 'big four' have picked up more points than Spurs in 2009 and understandably the bookies do not fancy the Latics' chances on Sunday, despite the fact they have claimed the scalps of Chelsea and Villa this season.

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MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• It is 12 matches since Spurs drew at home and 12 matches since Wigan drew away.
• Wigan beat Tottenham for the first time in their history last season when they won 1-0 at home.
• Their first ever meeting between the clubs was 26 November 2005, they has since played nine times with Spurs winning four, Wigan one and there has been four draws.



Tottenham
• Tottenham have scored as many goals in the league as Manchester United this season.
• The five headed goals Tottenham have scored this season puts them second only to Aston Villa, who have scored six.
• Spurs have conceded 10 goals from opposition midfield players - more than any other team in the top flight this season.

Wigan
• Wigan have the worst record of any side in the league against bottom-half teams, but have the third-best against top-half opposition.
• The Latics have scored the fewest goals from set-plays this season (three).
• In 22 Premier League visits to the capital, Wigan have only managed three wins (two at West Ham and one at Fulham).



LEADING GOALSCORERS

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Tottenham
Keane: 8 goals (6 league); Defoe: 7 goals (6 league)

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Wigan
Rodallega: 5 goals (5 league); Boyce and Scharner: 2 goals (2 league)




Referee: Peter Walton
Assistant referees: Nick Kinseley & Mike Bull
Fourth official: Keith Hill




MOST RECENT MEETING

Wigan 1-0 Tottenham (11 January 2009)
Wigan scorers: Maynor 90




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Tottenham Vs Wigan Tottenham Vs Wigan: Specials [

 

[Son_Of]

so happy to have lennon back. he's so dangerous this season.

3-1 spurs

 

[900triumph]

Can't see a problem here, providing we have width down at least one of the flanks, and if it is Lennon so much the better. If we try to go long and narrow ie Crouch (ha ha), we might struggle again, but today's magnificent result at the Stadium of Light shows that our last match was against a decent team in good form, which is not what I will be expecting from Wigan.

 

[Twizzle]

the other results have certainly gone our way

Citeh and Scousers having a draw, Villa a draw and Gunners going down

3 points is essential here

 

[TrueYid]

the other results have certainly gone our way

Citeh and Scousers having a draw, Villa a draw and Gunners going down

3 points is essential here

In the past, every time results go our way we blow it, we really need to take advantage and open up a gap between ourselves and fifth. 4-0 would do nicely!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

yeah lets hope we don't cock up a good opportunity

 

[yusrisafri]

It IS being shown LIVE here in SOuth East Asia, so I guess that's the reason the match was shifted, so that the match could be shown LIVE. Spurs have a sound following in Malaysia, maybe not as big as the Top 4, but big enough to let the sponsors consider switching the match to a Sunday to enable the live telecast.

Right, I'm going grocery shopping now to get me some nice titbits for me to laze on the sofa for tonight's match.

COYS!!!

 

[yusrisafri]

I was one of those who wanted Keano to sit out today's match, but after his goal last wek and his heartbreak, we might just see him scoring a couple tonight. So I'm hoping Arry plays the 2 little 'uns up fornt.

 

[nightgoat]

The Keane/Defoe partnership could have the same effect which Harry used it against Burnley for... If we have those two up front and Lennon and Kranjcar on the flanks we should create plenty...

 

[TrueYid]

It IS being shown LIVE here in SOuth East Asia, so I guess that's the reason the match was shifted, so that the match could be shown LIVE. Spurs have a sound following in Malaysia, maybe not as big as the Top 4, but big enough to let the sponsors consider switching the match to a Sunday to enable the live telecast.

Right, I'm going grocery shopping now to get me some nice titbits for me to laze on the sofa for tonight's match.

COYS!!!

It is live on FOX SPORTS in Australia too, but it would have been on if it was yesterday anyway, so I wouldn't think that would be the reason for the time change, I think it has been well documented anyway that the clubs agreed to have an extra 24 hours after the international break.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

hoping for a burnley.....

and praying we don't get a stoke....

 

[TheChosenOne]

A scrappy 1-0 would do but I'd love us to get 3 or 4 with a clean sheet.

 

[IamCelestial]

we HAVE to win today, given yesterdays results...

 

[Bonjour]

I had a dream last night that we beat Wigan 5-0.

The strange thing is I wasn't even aware we were actually playing Wigan until I checked this morning.

Bizarre.

 

[matt5768]

In the past, every time results go our way we blow it, we really need to take advantage and open up a gap between ourselves and fifth. 4-0 would do nicely!

my point exactly, im hoping we get a couple of goals to boost our goal difference too! we need to try and close that gap with the top 3 or it could come back to haunt us later in the season

 

[AngerManagement]

my point exactly, im hoping we get a couple of goals to boost our goal difference too! we need to try and close that gap with the top 3 or it could come back to haunt us later in the season

I agree with what you say, a great performance and a flood of goals would be sensational for us.

However I will echo my sentiments before the Sunderland game.... This game is big for us, and winning is all that truly matters. Once more I don't care if we get battered for 90mins and win with a deflected goal off a defenders arse.

Results went our way and it is a good time to put right the set back we had against Stoke. Until we get Modric back we are not going to look as fluent and creative as we were with him in the team (we also need one or two more key players to be signed) but if we can keep ourselves in and around the 4th place area with scrappy performances while Modric is out that is all we can ask I feel.

I would happily take a repeat of the Sunderland game, Wigan can have the moral victory and hard luck story for all I care as long as we walk away with the 3 points....once more today 3 points are the be all and end all.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I had a dream last night that we beat Wigan 5-0.

The strange thing is I wasn't even aware we were actually playing Wigan until I checked this morning.

Bizarre.

A&C has had a habit of predicting things lately, you should talk to him.

 

[Bulletspur]

A win would be good. But if the truth be known, we have not been very convincing, and Wigan are one of the teams that can perform and get a result contrary to our expectations.

We will need to pull our socks up and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

 

[haxman]

Sky have us down to win 4-0 mg:

Bit optimistic I'd say. Would take 1-0 or 2-1, going on our recent performances. You never know which Spurs or Wigan are going to turn up.

As long as we win and make use of those teams around us slipping up yesterday.

 

[nightgoat]

An early goal is pretty crucial...