Tottenham Hotspur Vs Stoke City Betting – Saturday 24th October

Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Venue: White Hart Lane

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: LLWDW 

Tottenham seriously mean business this season and they’ve started the new campaign with aplomb. Back-to-back defeats bang in the middle of September to Chelsea & Manchester United appeared to have derailed their bid for a top four finish but, with exception of those two rather disappointing, but far from surprising, results Tottenham have made an incredible start to the season, with six wins already under their belts. They have worked extremely hard to get themselves in such a prominent position and victory at home to Stoke could see them close the gap even further, at worst keep in touch, with the leading duo; Chelsea & Manchester United, ironically the only teams to have beaten Spurs this season.

The Harry Redknapp effect is obviously one of the main reasons why Tottenham are 1) achieving the right results and 2) playing with such renewed confidence and optimism. For the first time in a long while Spurs are actually becoming a dangerous side but on a more consistent basis. They have always been a ‘bogey’ team for some but maintaining that has been a stumbling block for Spurs in the past, not any more though. Six wins in nine just reiterates how far Tottenham have come within the space of year and they are already proving possible title contenders, certainly serious top four candidates.  

Tottenham, via goals from Jermaine Defoe & Ledley King of all people, secured a hard fought set of three points at Fratton Past last Saturday with a victory over Portsmouth, winning 2-1. However, although the result kept them within touching distance of the top two, Harry Redknapp will now have to cope without Jermaine Defoe after he was sent off for a ridiculous and uncalled for stamp. He will undoubtedly be missed, scoring five leagues goals already, but it pains me to say that Spurs should still cope without the England super-sub as the Tottenham squad right now is immense, full to the brim with quality. Peter Crouch will more than likely step in as a more than worthy replacement but Roman Pavlyuchenko is also another option, one Redknapp isn’t too keen on it would seem.

Tottenham’s biggest assets this season is their supreme quality in depth but also their ability to find the opposing goal with consummate ease. With 21 goals in the league thus far, Spurs currently boast the joint-third highest goalscoring tally in the league, level with second placed, Chelsea. They’re also averaging over two-goals-a-game and that is mainly down to their strength in numbers, once again. Spurs now have the quality to challenge on all fronts and they are already shaping up as a big threat to the leading quartet.

Unbeaten in three, six wins from nine and a boast worthy goal tally of 21 means Tottenham are favourites on Saturday and worthy ones at that. The 1.50 on offer with Boylesports doesn’t look much to write home about but we can’t see Tottenham slipping up at White Hart Lane, despite the absence of their most prolific striker this season.

Stoke City

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: LDLDW

Stoke have had to endure a tough fixture period during the last couple of months and it doesn’t get any easier with the trip to White Hart Lane, the home of an inform Tottenham Hotspur. Tony Pulis has already took his Stoke side into battle against Liverpool, Chelsea & Manchester United so far, with the Potters coming out second best on each occasion, and with Tottenham surging their way into top four contention, will Stoke come up short once again against one of the ‘Big Four’ wannabes.

At home, Stoke City are extremely hard to break down and, quite frankly, are damn awkward to play against. They’ve already notched up three home wins in five thus far but Stoke at home and Stoke on the road are a completely different side. So far Stoke have been on their travels four times this season, with Stoke yet to record an away win, losing one and drawing three, the draws coming at Bolton, Everton & Birmingham, hardly the leagues pacesetters right now. Stoke also had a major problem winning games on their travels last term, with just two of twenty away fixtures going their way in the 2008/2009 season and Stoke did go on a 16 match away run without a win.

The return of James Beattie is a big plus to both the manager and the fans and he duly delivered at the weekend with two goals against West Ham, with the former England forward putting in a man of the match display. However, although he will be a nuisance at the back for Spurs, we can’t see Stoke causing Tottenham enough problems to get them shaking in their boots. This shows in their dire away goal tally of just a mere two, although, The Potters have scored in their previous two away outings, possibly a sign of things to come from Tony Pulis and Stoke on the road this season.

Head-to-Head:

Tottenham Hotspur W: 1 Stoke City W: 1 Draws: 0

It’s one-a-piece in the head-to-head count between the two sides and it was home advantage which decided who took home all the points in last seasons brace of clashes. Tottenham beat Stoke 3-1 at White Hart Lane, the venue for this game, while Stoke got their revenge by beating Spurs 2-1 in the reverse fixture back at The Brittania.

Match Verdict:- Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 1.50 Boylesports

Tottenham, under Harry Redknapp, are flying high at the moment in time and we aren’t one to oppose such a free-flowing side at current. They don’t have problems finding the oppositions net and they shoouldn’t have to work too hard to locate Thomas Sorenson’s goal on Saturday. The incentive is there for Spurs, win and you’ll remain in the top four for at least another, and that benchmark should be enough to keep the Tottenham squad hungry for even more league success. A home win looks a very good call here.

Match Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur – 1.50 Boylesports

Draw – 4.5 Bet365

Stoke City – 8.5 totesport

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Tottenham Half-Time/Full-Time – 2.2 Boylesports