EPL: West Brom V Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday, 11th September

West Brom V Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday, 11th September – 15:00 GMT

West Brom

League Position: 16th
League Form: LWL

Despite a couple of early defeats, the Baggies haven’t quiet shorn away from their Premiership responsibilities and some sprightly early displays has seen us change our opinion on Di Matteo’s men, slightly. They simply weren’t at the races when annihilated by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the season, but instead of lounging around licking their wounds they got down to business and decided to work even harder next time out.

It takes character to respond positively to an emphatic defeat, regardless of who their opponent was, but their last two league performances have been really positive and they’ll go about maintaining their winning start to the season at The Hawthorns when they welcome Spurs to Birmingham in a fixture which has bared fruit in recent meetings. In fact, West Brom have won the last two meetings at The Hawthorns, each occasion without conceding which is probably what they’ll need to do again on Saturday if they’re to make it three on the spin.

West Brom’s last game before the break was a tough one on paper: a trip to Anfield to take on a resurgent Liverpool. Unfortunately, Roberto Di Matteo’s side didn’t come away with anything to show for their valiant efforts but they certainly earned the admiration from us. Not only were they resolute and well organised in defence for the most part, with Liverpool needing a Torres special to see them off, but they were dangerous going forward as well, something we don’t usually attribute West Brom with in recent Premier League spells. Their passing game has always been outstanding, the main attribute as to why they continue to flirt with promotion and relegation, but they’ve always been a classy forward short of stability, although Di Matteo hopes he has found his man in Nigerian Peter Odemwingie, who already has a goal to his name and will be looking to wow the West Brom crowd for the season time in succession.

Roberto Di Matteo does have a selection problem what with James Morrison banned for three games following his straight red card at Anfield. It means one of two new signings could fill his void, with former Wigan midfielder Paul Scharner and Somen Tchoyi vying for a starting berth. However, the spotlight is likely to fall on the forward duo of Marc Antoine-Fortune and Odemwingie, as the Baggies desperately require a couple of regular goalscorers if they’re to pick up enough points to fend off relegation this season.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 11th
League Form: DWL

Spurs went into the international break on a real downer and arrive back to Premier League action with further disappointment. While most managers would love to have internationals in their side, for Harry it must seem a real burden right now. Tottenham’s outstanding defender of last season, Michael Dawson, will be out of action for around eight weeks and will leave an irreplaceable void at the back. Ledley King is likely to cover over the crack for now but his consistent problems with his knees means he’s unlikely to play every game for the next two months, so Redknapp will have to do some chopping and changing over the forthcoming weeks between King, Bassong and William Gallas, whom has yet to make his Tottenham bow.

Few anticipated a defeat for Spurs immediately before the international break against not only a Wigan Athletic side which was conceding goals for fun before their visit to White Hart Lane but a team Tottenham spanked 9-0 in the very same fixture last season. So how on earth did Spurs go from ‘Cloud 9′ to one foot under? Some were blaming their midweek European exertions but it wasn’t as though Spurs had to do any travelling whatsoever. It was merely a complacency issues; Tottenham thought they would turn up, collect the three points and be on their way and that certainly wasn’t the case. It was one of the poorest performances I’ve seen from Spurs for quite some time and it was an early and abrupt wake up call that Spurs are in for a shock this season what with their Champions League commitments.

Tottenham’s home defeat to Wigan has opened up a can of worms now as to whether Spurs can cope with playing league games straight after a European week, as even the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd have struggled with the same concept over the years. Fortunately, Spurs weren’t in European action during the week, not for the club anyway, but Redknapp does have a whole host of players returning from international duty, including deadline day signing Rafael Van Der Vaart, who is in line to make his Spurs début on Saturday, although may have to watch from the comfort of the sidelines from the off.

Spurs have tasted a bit of everything this season, having won, drawn and lost games already. They are, though, still boasting a 100% record on the road following their hard fought win at Stoke three weeks ago, and Harry will be targeting another away win in one of his and Tottenham’s easier away assignments of the campaign.

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.50 PaddyPower

Both these teams play attractive football, with the Baggies loving to spread the ball about and know how to find a man while Spurs prefer to play quick, snappy football to deadly effect. However, we just get the feeling that these two may well cancel each other out at The Hawthorns and that is why our preference is for a stalemate.

West Brom will be difficult to beat at home and will give it everything they have to get a result on Saturday as they know full well the importance of obtaining points in every single home fixture.

Soccer-Betting Value Tip: Both Teams to Score (YES) – 1.80 BlueSquare

Match Odds:

West Brom – 4.00 Ladbrokes
Draw – 3.50 PaddyPower
Tottenham Hotspur – 2.10 Boylesports