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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
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
2[ar]
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