Tottenham vs Everton: Match Thread

[chrissivad]

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Tottenham Vs Everton

Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 28 February 2009 Kick-off: 1300 GMT

Coverage: Full commentary BBC London 94.9 fm, BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8 FM, 1485 MW and DAB, DSAT & Online, Live on ESPN, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & 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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Spurs hit by virus, Toffees aim to put European exit behind them​

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Tottenham's bid to maintain their challenge for a Champions League berth against Everton on Sunday has suffered a major blow.

Spurs were in seventh place before last Sunday's visit to Wigan but a 3-0 victory allowed them to leapfrog Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City to climb into fourth.
Roman Pavlyuchenko came off the bench to seal victory with a late double and after being rewarded with a rare start in the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Bolton on Wednesday, the Russian striker grabbed another brace in a 4-0 win.
However, the club have since been forced to close their training ground facilities, with only the pitches used for training, due to the virus that hit earlier in the week.
Everton were also on a high last weekend as they backed up home victories over Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon with a 3-1 win over defending champions Manchester United at Goodison Park.
That has sent the Toffees up to eighth place having been as low as 16th following their derby defeat by Liverpool at the end of November.
The Reds won the return fixture too earlier this month but that is Everton's only defeat in 12 league games since, with David Moyes' men having won five of the last six.
The feelgood factor around Goodison was dented in midweek, though, as they were knocked out of the Europa League.
Sporting won 3-0 in Portugal to wipe out Everton's 2-1 first-leg advantage and book their place in the last 16.
But at least that leaves the Toffees able to concentrate on pushing for an unlikely place in next season's competition, something which looked far beyond them just two months ago.


Team news

The virus has left Wilson Palacios and Vedran Corluka as the main concerns for Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
Otherwise, Jermain Defoe (hamstring) and Peter Crouch (ankle) will be assessed before the White Hart Lane clash, but David Bentley (groin) is expected to be fit.
Ledley King is struggling with the thigh injury which forced him off against Wigan while winger Aaron Lennon is sidelined with a groin problem.
Pavlyuchenko is hopeful of starting up front after scoring five goals in his last three games, while Luka Modric will also hope to keep his place after earning a recall in midweek.
Everton defenders Sylvain Distin (suspension) and John Heitinga (cup-tied) are available again after sitting out the midweek trip to Portugal.
Phil Jagielka is also back in contention after coming off the bench on Thursday to make his first appearance since suffering a cruciate ligament injury last April.
Philippe Senderos (hip) could make way while Tim Cahill (calf) is also doubtful, but both full-back Tony Hibbert (hernia) and attacking midfielder Marouane Fellaini (ankle) remain sidelined.


PREDICTIONS

Skysports.com prediction: Tottenham 2 Everton 1

SKY BET odds: Tottenham evens, Draw 9/4, Everton 3/1

One to watch: Roman Pavlyuchenko
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BBC Preview

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Tottenham's Wilson Palacios and Vedran Corluka hope to recover in time from a stomach virus that has swept through the club's training ground.
Jermain Defoe is doubtful after aggravating a hamstring problem and fellow striker Peter Crouch faces a late fitness test on a foot problem.
Everton pair Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga are available after missing Thursday's Europa League defeat.
Phil Jagielka may figure after making his return from injury in that game.

Tottenham
Suspended: None
Doubtful:Corluka & Palacios (both virus), Crouch (foot) Defoe (hamstring)
Injured: Cudicini (broken wrists), Jenas (groin), King (thigh), Lennon & Woodgate (both groin)

Everton
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Anichebe (back), Jagielka (knee)
Injured: Cahill (calf), Fellaini (ankle), Hibbert (groin), Senderos (back)

MATCH PREVIEW


Both sides suffered contrasting fortunes in cup competitions in midweek. While Tottenham brushed Bolton aside, Everton were being spanked by Sporting.

There were no Lisbon Lions on show for the Toffees in the Portuguese capital as their lacklustre display meant they bowed out of the Europa League in surprising and disappointing fashion. David Moyes can only hope it was a blip after the sensational results they have enjoyed in recent weeks, felling giants Chelsea and Manchester United.
Their run of superb form can be traced back to the home clash with Spurs in December.
Tottenham came bearing gifts as they blew a two-goal lead and missed an injury-time penalty to allow Everton to sneak a 2-2 draw.
Everton have since only lost once in 12 league matches to slowly creep up on the Champions League chasers.
Tottenham's unlikely hero in the past week has been Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russian has come in from the cold and his previously frosty relationship with manager Harry Redknapp has thawed after the talented, but laid-back, striker finally applied himself and has reaped the rewards with four goals in two games.

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MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• From 1992 to 2004 the Toffees managed just two wins against Spurs in the league, but they are unbeaten in their last five matches and have won on their last three league visits to White Hart Lane. In 17 seasons of Premier League encounters, Tottenham have won 17, Everton five and there have been 13 draws.
• None of the last eight league games between these sides have been won by the home team.
• Tim Howard has already saved two penalties in matches against Tottenham this season.


Tottenham
• The Lilywhites have kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 league games and five in a row at White Hart Lane. Their record in the Premier League is six, set last season under Harry Redknapp.
• Tottenham have not won in any competition since August having failed to score in the first half, a run of 31 games.
• Between them, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko have claimed 10 out of the last 12 goals Tottenham have scored in all competitions, the other two were own goals.


Everton
• The Toffees have lost only one of their last 12 league outings (a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool), but have won only one of their last seven away games in the league.
• Everton have managed to keep only only kept one clean sheet in their last nine league matches away from home.
• David Moyes' side have scored in 11 of their last 12 league games.




LEADING GOALSCORERS

Tottenham
Defoe: 22 goals (16 league); Crouch 10 goals (5 league)......

Everton
Saha: 15 goals (13 league); Cahill: 6 goals (4 league); Pienaar: 6 goals (3 league)

Referee: Steve Bennett
Assistant referees: Andy Halliday & Simon Long
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell




MOST RECENT MEETING

Everton 2-2 Tottenham (6 December 2009)
Everton scorers: Saha 78, Cahill 86
Tottenham scorers: Defoe 47, Dawson 59



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Spurs Vs Everton Winning Margin

 

[jimtheyid]

Will be there at the Lane tomorrow... COYS!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Fingers crossed eh lads.

 

[sim0n]

Fingers crossed eh lads.

Is it gonna be THudd and Kaboul in the CM with the Modric and Pav duo up top? It's gonna be interesting,... Eek

 

[spurslenny]

Once again, not confident.

Everton have that something that lack above all else. Steel.

 

[3Dnata]

It's a good time to play a side after a thursday away in Europe.
C5 highlited Veloso's goal came through an area where their flat back 4 is vunerable to people running at them and in that space we have Bale, Modric and Pavs.
My prediction today is for Modric to cut the ball back to Pavs who has peeled of his defender and will score.

 

[DefoeFan]

really tough game today!. There side is nothing like the side which got heavily beaten at Arsenal at the beginning of the season. Now that they are back to full strength, nobody wants to play them.

 

[tony0379]

really tough game today!. There side is nothing like the side which got heavily beaten at Arsenal at the beginning of the season. Now that they are back to full strength, nobody wants to play them.

wasnt at arsenal it was at goodison

 

[DC_Boy]

well i think sporting lisbon would want to play them, they outclassed everton big-time on thursday

had it not been for the virus I would say we'd have been happy playing them on the back of that abject performance, but the virus makes this one hard to call now for me

 

[ostrov]

Anyway, I don't care how they're playing at the moment. We must concentrate on our game and play the best we can. On our day we can beat anybody. Virus no virus we have to do the job.
It's our fans who are the 12th player, don't forget.

 

[DC_Boy]

sometimes our fans are the 12th man - sometimes they're the 5th column - let's see which set of fans turn up today

 

[chkthfc82]

tight game today i think.

1-0/2-1 either way.

 

[ostrov]

sometimes our fans are the 12th man - sometimes they're the 5th column - let's see which set of fans turn up today

On the evidence of last game as long as Super Pav is playing they are happy. I was shocked by his popularity.:grin:

 

[DC_Boy]

ostrov - on wednesday the fans were great - and i've priased them on here more than once

maybe it's partly because their fave Pav was playing

though something in the back of my mind makes me think our support is often better during cup games when there's less of the regulars, who unfortunately seem to have a large amount of moaners and whingers in their ranks

this is only a suspicion of mine, and i can't back it up with evidence, but i seem to recall posting a similar comment before

anyway, let's see today

i don't think we're in the race for 4th ATM, but a lot of people do, and so it will be seen as a last chance game by many, so hopefully that'll get the passions going, for some anyway

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

If Palacios is fit, I predict we will smash them - with Pav, Modric and Gudjohnsen running riot!

COYS!

 

[ostrov]

i don't think we're in the race for 4th ATM, but a lot of people do, and so it will be seen as a last chance game by many, so hopefully that'll get the passions going, for some anyway

I strongly hope we have some luck today as well :wink:

 

[Raxscallion]

i don't think we're in the race for 4th ATM, but a lot of people do, and so it will be seen as a last chance game by many, so hopefully that'll get the passions going, for some anyway

Don't you?

Cos, if we win today, we'll be 4th, and no one'll have a game in hand that can displace us.

So, er.... :shrug:


I'm very, very pleased that Fallatio's injured. He's a dirty little **** and I'd be seriously worried for our CBs' cheekbones if he was on the pitch. It seems we're going to need another Mabbutt-style facial injury before they remember that elbowing someone in the face is an instant red card.

 

[Alfieconnman]

Don't you?

Cos, if we win today, we'll be 4th, and no one'll have a game in hand that can displace us.

So, er.... :shrug:


I'm very, very pleased that Fallatio's injured. He's a dirty little **** and I'd be seriously worried for our CBs' cheekbones if he was on the pitch. It seems we're going to need another Mabbutt-style facial injury before they remember that elbowing someone in the face is an instant red card.

After the match today Citeh will have one game in hand on us and Villa will have two.

 

[DC_Boy]

Don't you?

Cos, if we win today, we'll be 4th, and no one'll have a game in hand that can displace us.

So, er.... :shrug:

quote]

I know the points situation, in fact I think I know it better than you, because IIRC, City will have a game in hand over us after today :shrug:

I still don't think we're in the race - i said after the wolves game that's it it's over, and nothing has happened since to change my mind (i predicted 6th at the start of the season, and that's more like it I reckon than 4th)

if we beat everton and blackburn - i might, just might, think we've somehow sneaked past the bouncers of the 'Last Chance Saloon'

but as far as I'm concerned ATM we're stll on the mud outside, maybe shaking our fist, maybe licking our wounds, we'll see much more after today

 

[Raxscallion]

After the match today Citeh will have one game in hand on us and Villa will have two.

*checks*

Oh, er.... Well I suppose mathematically you might be right....

I know the points situation, in fact I think I know it better than you....

Clearly.