English Premier
2013-05-12 - Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 12 May 2013 - Kick Off 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Stoke City
A late season surge of points has kept Stoke City away from the developing relegation battle below them in the table and they are all but confirmed as a Premier League team for next season. Thanks to Wigan Athletic losing to Swansea last Tuesday, it will take a real turn of events at this late stage for Stoke to be relegated, although there will still be a discussion surrounding Tony Pulis' position as manager once the season is over.
The side are 11th in the Premier League table and are currently 6 points clear of Wigan in the final relegation place, while Stoke are also 13 goals better off in the goal difference column. Thanks to Aston Villa's defeat on Saturday, Stoke are guaranteed of their place in the Premier League next season and they can at least play this game with a bit of freedom. Stoke have a 7-7-4 record at home this season, scoring and conceding 20 goals in those games.
Stoke have picked up a vital 7 points from their last 3 Premier League games and that has pushed them clear of what could have been a very disappointing relegation to the Championship. After a run of 3 losses from 4 League games at the Brittania Stadium, Stoke recorded a 1-0 win over Norwich City here last time out.
Glenn Whelan, Andy Wilkinson and Marc Wilson are all doubtful for this game.
Tottenham Hotspur
The 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday night means Tottenham Hotspur are still fighting for a place in the Champions League next season, although their destiny is no longer in their own hands. Thanks to Chelsea's vastly superior goal difference, their win at Villa Park on Saturday means Spurs are now only really capable of overtaking Arsenal for the final Champions League place.
As of Saturday evening, Tottenham Hotspur are 5th in the Premier League and are 1 point behind Arsenal immediately above them in the table and 6 points behind Chelsea in 3rd place. Due to an inferior goal difference compared with Arsenal, Spurs have to really win their last 2 home games and hope Arsenal drop points in at least one of their remaining two games if they are to make the top four. Tottenham bring in a 9-4-5 away record from games in the League, scoring 35 goals and conceding 27 in those games.
Tottenham have actually scored late goals in each of their last 5 Premier League games which has kept them in touch with the top four, although the fans would have hoped for more than 3 wins from their last 6 Premier League games. Spurs have only won 1 of their last 6 away games in all competitions and have drawn their last 3 with the same 2-2 scoreline.
Mousa Dembele is back in the squad for this game having missed the game at Stamford Bridge during the week.
Head to Head
The two sides played out a goalless draw at White Hart Lane earlier this season.
Games between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Brittania Stadium in the Premier League have seen each side win 2 and lose 2.
Prediction
With Stoke City having their position confirmed in the Premier League for next season, they can at least play with some freedom, although they are facing a team that scores plenty of goals on their travels.
I can see both sides scoring, but I do think Spurs will pick up a vital win so backing them to win a high-scoring game looks a decent call.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
Stoke City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Tottenham Hotspur Win and Over 2.5 Goals scored in the match (The Total Result Market) @ 3.10 (Ladbrokes)
