Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham (not Aston Villa, as it should have been)
This Wednesday we were supposed to play Villa, then they cancelled, even though they managed to play their game against Liverpool on Friday night(using their U23’s) and now we play the cancelled match against Fulham instead. All this pissing around because of COVID-19.
To be honest, what concerns me is the programme (I am a programme collector). Will we still have a programme at this late stage? Granted, they had already published a programme for the cancelled Fulham game, but tradition usually dictates that a new one is commissioned for the new date. We shall see.
We’ve had a good couple of weeks since losing to Leicester Titty on 20th December. We’ve beaten Marine (5-0) in the FA Cup, Brentford 2-0 to go to the final in the League cup, Leeds 3-0 in the League and a draw against Wolves (1-1). So, hopefully, we will continue with our good results against Fulham on Wednesday.
How it all came about (scheduling rescheduling etc.)
As I had already said, Fulham’s Premier League match on the 30th December had been called off because of new coronavirus cases at the west London club. Fulham then requested for the game to be postponed and the decision was confirmed three hours before kick-off. Luckily for me, there was no football, otherwise, I would have been there before they announced the cancellation.
Last Tuesday, the latest round of Premier League Covid-19 testing found 18 people had the virus – the highest figure recorded in the testing programme.
A Tottenham statement said: “The Premier League informed us of the decision this [Wednesday] afternoon, with Fulham having requested the postponement on the grounds of the number of Covid-19 positive cases among their players and staff. Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends their best wishes to Fulham for a safe and speedy recovery to all those who are affected.”
Manchester City’s match at Everton was another cancellation four hours before kick-off at Goodison Park because of another coronavirus outbreak.
Newcastle United’s match at Aston Villa, scheduled for 4th December, was postponed following a “significant increase” in cases at the Magpies’ training ground.
The anxiety on the Premier League over the chaos caused by the epidemic is increasing.
Without further ado, to the match
Team News
Tottenham
Jose Mourinho has intimated Harry Winks will again start, while Gareth Bale could make his first league appearance in almost four weeks.
Mourinho also weighs up whether to recall Erik Lamela following injury, but Giovani Lo Celso remains sidelined.
Fulham
They have no known injury or suspension problems, which is a real rarity for any top-flight clubs in the current climate.
The two-and-a-half-week break between league games should work in Fulham’s favour, with the likes of Ademola Lookman and Mario Lemina fully rested.
My thoughts and prediction
We have won our last three without conceding in three different competitions, a run that has seen us reach the League Cup’s final, the fourth round of the FA Cup and climb up to fourth in the Premier League.
Fulham are now unbeaten in five; that is all competitions.
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form: WDLLDW
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions): LWDWWW
Fulham Premier League form: WLDDDD
Fulham form (all competitions): LDDDDW
I expect a strong squad, unlike our game against Marine. Kane was rested but will play.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Winks, Hojbjerg; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane
All focus now is on the top flight, with us still very much in title contention thanks to a return of 29 points from 16 matches. That is also mostly thanks to teams around us dropping points.
When the game with Fulham was initially supposed to have been played, we hadn’t had a good run; however, we’ve had a turnaround since then. We are now 4th in the League and only 4 points behind league leaders. And we’ve got a game in hand. Fulham, on the other hand, are 18th with 11 points to their name.
On paper, we should do up Fulham up like a kipper and have a goal rush. We are certainly better and have a better squad than the team in 18th position and struggling.
Prediction: we will definitely score over 2 goals, probably 3-0 or 4 or 5-1.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have scored 22 of Spurs’ 29 league goals this term
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We have won 10 of the last 11 Premier League meetings.
Fulham’s most recent victory against Spurs was 1-0 away in March 2013, when Dimitar Berbatov scored against his former club.
Fulham have not scored more than once in any of their past 13 league trips to Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur
We have won just two of our past seven league matches, drawing three times and losing twice.
We have recorded eight victories in our past nine fixtures in all competitions at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, keeping seven clean sheets.
We have won our last 10 home league matches played on a Wednesday by an aggregate score of 24-3.
We are unbeaten in our past seven London league derbies, winning three and drawing four.
Son and Harry Kane have combined for 13 Premier League goals this season – no pair have ever combined for more in a single campaign.
Kane has scored five goals in three appearances against Fulham.
Fulham
This will be Fulham’s first Premier League match since their goalless draw with Southampton on Boxing Day.
They are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions, including their extra-time FA Cup win over QPR at the weekend.
Fulham have drawn four successive league games. It’s their longest unbeaten top-flight run since a five-match streak between February and April 2013.
The Cottagers have lost their 13 most recent Premier League London derbies – an all-time record losing streak in the top flight.
Fulham are winless in their last 14 top-flight away matches played on a Wednesday, dating back to 2002.
Scott Parker made 50 Premier League appearances for Tottenham between 2011-13.
Parker made four league appearances for Chelsea under Jose Mourinho during the 2004-05 campaign.
Well, that is it; you’ve got my prediction, thoughts, statistics and positiveness. So, take care, be safe and Up the Spurs!
Glenn
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London. I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books, Spurs handbooks, Spurs programmes etc.
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
