Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur
Football : English Premier League
Saturday 21 August 2010 - Kickoff 3pm

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Stoke City

Stoke City were comfortable survivors in the Premier League for the 2nd season in succession and there can be no underestimating the strength of the job done by Tony Pulis. The squad has been strengthened again this Summer as the team now begins to look at moving up the table rather than focusing survival, although reaching the 43 point mark as soon as possible remains the number 1 objective at the club.

The Potters made a disappointing start to the new campaign as they fell 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend. Pulis blamed the injury to Kenwyn Jones, an 8 million pound purchase from Sunderland, as affecting his players and resulting in the defeat. Stoke finished 11th in the Premier League last season and had a solid 7-6-6 record at the Brittania Stadium where they scored 24 goals and conceded 21.

Kenwyn Jones is a doubt for this game and I do not imagine him being risked after his previous injury worries. Liam Lawrence has been linked with a move to Celtic this Summer as a replacement for Aiden McGeady and is likely to miss out here. Jonathan Walters is another new signing for Stoke this Summer and will come into the squad here.

Possible Stoke City Line Up: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Huth, Shawcross, Faye, Whelan, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Tuncay and Fuller (4-4-2)

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur almost undid all of their hard work from last season in 30 crazy minutes in Switzerland on Tuesday night as Harry Redknapp displayed some tactical naiviety that comes when you have not managed in the Champions League before. Spurs are hoping to improve on last seasons 4th placed finish this year, but will have to significantly improve their defensive performances from the one given on Tuesday.

Young Boys beat Spurs 3-2 in the end in their first leg of the Champions League play off matches, but Tottenham will remain favourites to qualify. Spurs performed terribly on Tuesday which was a complete contrast to their performance against Manchester City last Saturday, even though the game ended 0-0. Spurs had an inconsistent 7-5-7 record away from home, scoring 27 goals and conceding 29, and will need to improve that if they are to challenge for the title as Harry Redknapp suggests they could.

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham rest many players with their 2nd leg play off game in mind next Wednesday. Both Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe are doubts atfer picking up niggles in Switzerland. Jonathan Woodgate remains the only long term absentee.

Possible Tottenham Hotspur Line Up: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Bale, Lennon, Palacious, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Keane and Crouch (4-4-2)

Head to Head

The 2 sides have met 4 times in the Premier League since Stoke City returned to the top flight. Both Stoke and Tottenham have won 2 games each, and each has won 1 of those games at the other team's ground.

Last season Tottenham won 1-2 at the Brittania Stadium.

Prediction

Stoke City will be looking to make a marked improvement this season and perhaps even nab a top 10 finish. They look like they have far too much to become involved in a relegation issue, but I am sure they would love to pick up their first points of the season as soon as possible to get moving. Tony Pulis ensures his side plays everyone tough here at the Brittania Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur looked all over the shop defensively in their game at Young Boys and there were gaps big enough to drive a London Bus through at times. They have struggled to maintain clean sheets away from home, only keeping 3 from their 19 games last season, but they have a real threat in attacking positions.

Harry Redknapp will want a reaction from his side to the game on Tuesday, but this is a tough place to come if there are defensive issues in a side, especially with the long throws of Rory Delap. It will also be the first chance we have to see how Tottenham react to playing a tough away game in Europe followed by a tough Premier League game away from home.

With Spurs lacking clean sheets in their away games from last season, but posing a real attacking threat, I will pick both teams to score as my bet here.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Stoke City 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll favour the 'Both teams to Score @ 1.83 (Paddy Power)