English Premier
2006-12-05 - Tottenham vs Middelsbro
A Sports Betting Pick by Gooner
Tottenham will be looking for home comforts at White Hart Lane this evening after failing to turn up for last weekend's North London derby against Arsenal.TOTTENHAM
As usual last weekend I got a torrent of abuse (before the game) for daring to suggest that Arsenal might win - and zero apologies afterwards.
But the most surprising this was the outrage when I suggested the Tottenham were going down the Arsenal path - which really seemed to strike a nerve.
It wasn't meant to be a taunt or a jibe - I was just saying that Tottenham have :
- employed a European coach who prefers the possession game
- are buying skilled players from the continent
- are playing little known African / Asian players
- are putting an emphasis on speed over size
- are more likely to win away in Europe than in England
- and are having a lot of problems winning away from home.
Sounds like Arsenal to me - and sounds like Tottenham to me as well.
Tottenham Home Form
26/11/06 W 3-1 v Wigan
05/11/06 W 2-1 v Chelsea
22/10/06 W 1-0 v West_Ham
01/10/06 W 2-1 v Portsmouth
17/09/06 D 0-0 v Fulham
26/08/06 L 0-2 v Everton
22/08/06 W 2-0 v Sheff_Utd
But a quick look at the home record shows that Spurs are also a much stronger force at home and having won their last four home games in a row there should be no shortage of confidence.
MIDDLESBRO
As for Boro - they had a tough game on the weekend - losing 1-2 at home to Manchester Utd.
There was some controversy over the opening goal - a Cristiano Ronaldo earned penalty - but lets not hide the fact that Manchester United were superior and were well worth the win.
Away from home Boro are proving to be a side that can defend well against the top rated sides when they play defensively, but also that they somehow manage to slip up against lesser ranked sides.
Middlesbrough Away Form
25/11/06 D 1-1 v Aston_Villa
04/11/06 L 0-2 v Watford
30/10/06 L 0-1 v Man_City
30/09/06 L 1-2 v Sheff_Utd
16/09/06 D 0-0 v Bolton
09/09/06 D 1-1 v Arsenal
19/08/06 L 2-3 v Reading
I'd expect Boro to come to The Lane looking for a point to start with - so the emphasis will be on Spurs to break them down.
HEAD TO HEAD
Tottenham have the edge over Boro recently when this game is played in London winning the last two fixtures.
Head to Head Form
20/08/05 Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbrough
28/11/04 Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbrough
26/10/03 Tottenham 0-0 Middlesbrough
28/09/02 Tottenham 0-3 Middlesbrough
27/10/01 Tottenham 2-1 Middlesbrough
23/12/00 Tottenham 0-0 Middlesbrough
THE VERDICT
There is just three points between these two sides right now - but I expect that to have widened by the end of the night.
Both sides are playing well at home - but are unable to click when travelling - and I expect Spurs to be on top throughout.
I'll take Tottenham to win.
The Pick :
Tottenham 2-0 Middlesbro
