Tottenham Hotspur V Aston Villa

Saturday, 6^th February – 17:30 GMT (LIVE on ESPN)

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: WDLWD

After slipping up last weekend, Tottenham try their luck against another top four hopeful as they welcome Aston Villa to White Hart Lane in a clash that will provide us with some inkling into which side, if either, are ready for the challenge that could await them next season in the Champions League. However, the pressure will be on the home side more than the visitors on Saturday because Spurs lost their last clash with one of their top four rivals, losing at Liverpool, and so, defeat on Saturday would not only harm their chances of finishing in the Champions League places but it could also have an adverse affect on the players mindsets heading into the final half of fixtures.

Harry Redknapp was a busy bee during January as he welcomed Eidur Gudjohnsen to Tottenham, but at the same time waved goodbye to Robbie Keane as the Republic of Ireland international joined Celtic on loan until the end of the season. Surely this ‘one in, one out’ process of theirs will be greeted with mixed thoughts from the fans as Gudjohnsen hasn’t been in the sort of form that seen him win the title at Chelsea for a long while now, while Keane is the closest thing the Spurs fans have to a God. To be fair, Keane hasn’t been at his best this season and his departure was due to Redknapp growing fond of his former Portsmouth striking duet of Jermain Defoe & Peter Crouch. The pair have featured prominently for Tottenham in recent games, even in Tottenham’s recent midweek success in the FA Cup, so even a former Premier league champion in Eidur Gudjohnsen may struggle to get games under Redknapp.

As far as this game goes and Tottenham’s chances of claiming all three points, they remain high after an impressive display in the FA Cup on Wednesday. Spurs were forced into a replay by a hard working Leeds United and Wednesday’s clash at Elland Road was a real test of character. However, the Tottenham players passed this test with flying colours as they dominated proceedings from the word ‘Go’. They must have created something like a dozen clear cut chances during the course of the 90 minutes and quite how they only managed three goals is unbelievable. They did, nevertheless, get the win they craved and, in the process, celebrated a Jermain Defoe hat-trick as the pacey England forward aims to end the season with a good vein of form in front of goal in order to enhance his chances of playing in South Africa.

Tottenham will need to make a bright start at White Hart Lane. Much like their high tempo start at Elland Road on Wednesday where Spurs could have been over the hill and far away within the opening 30 minutes. However, the problem now arising for Tottenham is their annoying habit of passing up glorious goalscoring opportunities and they’ve been in a wasteful mood for some time now. If we’re honest, Tottenham need to strike while the irons hot and they need an early goal in this fixture to gain some early confidence in front of goal. This season Spurs have proved they can go 90 minutes without scoring a goal, even though they create so many chances. Jermaine Defoe especially needs to be far more clinical and his four goals in two games should be the catalyst he needs to regain his scoring form.

Aston Villa

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: LLDDW

Villa got back to winning ways at the weekend when they brushed a-side Fulham at Craven Cottage a week ago. That victory in London, where Villa will travel this Saturday, ended their four match drought without winning a Premiership fixture but it won’t get an easier as they travel to the capital to take on one of their top four rivals in Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. However, it’s worth pointing out that Villa did beat Tottenham in London last season, although their victory did come at a time when Tottenham were in serious trouble with form and confidence, and Villa won’t have the luxury of playing the same Tottenham side this Saturday.

This is a big game for Villa as defeat would see them fall five points behind their match day opponents. Their form isn’t great either, with just one win to their name in their last five, but Villa did finally get that much needed victory last weekend when they overcame what should have been an awkward Fulham side at a tough venue at Craven Cottage. A stadium where some of the biggest teams in the country have fallen this season. However, that is one hugely positive factor with Aston Villa in that no arena intimidates them any more, and where they would curl up into a ball at the big stadium’s in past seasons, they are instead pulling sensational performances out of the bag and have been reaping the rewards all season.  

It appears nothing scares this Villa side any more and they need look no further for away inspiration than their victories over the country’s two most prolific clubs in Liverpool, beating the 18 time league champions 3-1 at Anfield, and Manchester United, also beating an 18 time champions at Old Trafford; 1-0. Both encounters saw Villa produce two colossal performances, outplaying two of England’s glamorous sides for most parts, and there is no doubt that Villa have the credentials to register yet another big away victory and claim yet another away scalp.

For Villa to win this encounter they will need to produce a performance as good as the ones when they beat Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester United at Old Trafford. In both, Villa were magnificent throughout. They were dangerous in attack, quick to break and were outstanding at the back. They worked hard in closing down their opponents and rushing them when in possession but they will also need a bid shot-stopping display from one of their heroes of the season in Brad Friedel, whom has kept them in the big games this season with some stunning saves. The American has been Villa’s last form of defence and he’s arguably been the best goalkeeper in the Premiership this season, up their with Joe Hart. The proof is literally in the pudding as Villa haven’t conceded a league goal in 270 minutes of play, while four of their five away wins this season have been to NIL. So, a solid defence has been the key to Villa’s away exploits this season and another workmanlike shift is needed on Saturday from the Villa defence.

Head-to-Head:

Tottenham Hotspur W: 3 Aston Villa W: 2 Draws: 5

•  There’s not a lot separating these two in the h2h counter, with five of their last ten meetings ending in a share of the spoils. 

•  Last season, the away side claimed all three points on both occasions, with Villa winning this same fixture 2-1 at White Hart Lane in 2008 and Tottenham then avenging the defeat with a 2-1 win at Villa Park. 

•  Villa have won two of their last four meetings, both of which were by a 2-1 scoreline. 

•  The last encounter between them finished 1-1 but four of their last five clashes have produced at least three goals or more.

• The highest scoring league games between the two came in 2007 when the pair played out an enthralling 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane, with Villa having a 4-1 lead at one point before Tottenham clawed their way back into the game with three second half goals.

Match Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 2.20 Boylesports

Tottenham have been a risky bet this season as they go through lean spells in front of goal where, try all they might, they just can’t seem to hit the net. However, so long as they’re creating plenty of chances they’re a good bet in our eyes but they will need to take the golden ones that do come along on Saturday if they are to record a big victory over one of their closest competitors for a top four finish. They need a bright start and we think they’ll get it as Villa won’t look to open up too early on. If Spurs do get the first goal then we fancy them to go on and win this encounter. However, our bet goes straight out the window if Villa land the first blow as anything can happen with a Villa lead.

Match Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur – 2.20 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Aston Villa – 3.65 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Tottenham Hotspur to be leading after 30 minutes – 5/2 WilliamHill