English Premier
2012-05-13 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Match Preview :
Tottenham welcomes Fulham for this London derby knowing that three points could guarantee them UEFA Champions League football next season. Harry Redknapp's men remain firmly in a three-way battle for a spot at Europe's top table, sitting fourth in the Premier League and sit in between Arsenal and Newcastle.
Should Tottenham see off the Fulham and Arsenal, currently leading them by a point, fail to win at West Brom, then Spurs would join Manchester City and Manchester United in next season's Champions League.
However, if Arsenal wins, that would see Tottenham left to battle for fourth place with Newcastle who sit a further point behind in fifth spot ahead of their trip to Everton.
Nevertheless, Harry Redknapp are unlikely to be satisfied with fourth, knowing a Chelsea victory in this month's Champions League final against Bayern Munich would mean only the top three spots secure qualification for the tournament. Tottenham will therefore be desperate for a win and hope for Arsenal to slip up.
Tottenham will hope to complete the double over Fulham after they emerged winners when they met at Craven Cottage winning that match 3-1 back in November. However, since then Tottenham have hit a poor run of form, winning just three of their 12 Premier League games since the end of February and losing six.
That run has shaken Spurs' European dreams but they came back to winning ways beating Blackburn and Bolton in recent games.Last weekend Harry Redknapp's side could only draw at Aston Villa as the Midlanders earned a hard-fought point to boost their survival hopes.
Fulham, meanwhile, are enjoying a strong run-in, winning five and losing just one of their last seven league games, with seventh place the highest Martin Jol's side can hope for. Fulham will be glad to note that Tottenham have lost on the final day in three of the last four seasons.
Team News :
Tottenham Team News :
Tottenham captain Scott Parker is a doubt for this match as he is out with an Achilles injury.
Danny Rose is suspended after his red card against Villa last week and Benoit Assou-Ekotto is out with a shoulder injury. That will have to mean that William Gallas may have to play at left-back, while Ledley King could miss out with his knee problem.
The likes of Niko Kranjcar (knee), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Michael Dawson (ankle) misses out with injuries.
Fulham Team News :
Fulham will be without talismanic midfielder Clint Dempsey for their trip to White Hart Lane. Dempsey is struggling with a groin injury while manager Jol is also without Bryan Ruiz (foot), Dickson Etuhu (knee) and Steve Sidwell (hernia) as he takes on his former club.
Alex Kacaniklic is also a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Possible lineups
Tottenham : Friedel, Walker, King, Kaboul, Gallas, Lennon, Sandro, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Adebayor.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise, Duff, Murphy, Diarra, Frei, Dembele, Pogrebnyak.
Predictions :
Take Fulham and accept the 1 1/4 ball as they will not lose more then a goal here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham 2-1 Fulham
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Fulham and accept the +1 1/4 ball.
