Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur - Match Preview

Tottenham Hotspur will go into today’s clash with Stoke hoping to keep up the pressure on Manchester United in second place whilst knowing that they have a better record than most at the Britannia Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur will go into today€™s clash with Stoke hoping to keep up the pressure on Manchester United in second place whilst knowing that they have a better record than most at the Britannia Stadium. Spurs have won 2-1 in their last two visits to Stoke in the league but will be hoping for revenge for their defeat on penalties in the third round of the League Cup earlier in the season. The London club are in fine form at the moment and should they avoid defeat today they will extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games which would be their best since the 1984-85 season. However, Stoke are no pushovers and they are renowned for strong defensive displays at home. While this reputation was dented last month by home defeats to Newcastle and then QPR, they have won their last two Premier League games and have shown impressive form in Europe. Tottenham old boy Peter Crouch will no doubt feel he has a point to prove to former manager Harry Redknapp and Wilson Palacios, Johnathan Woodgate and Matthew Etherington are also set to face their former club.

Team News

Rory Delap and Jermaine Pennant could return for the home side after missing the game against Everton and Andy Wilkinson is a doubt. Thomas Sorensen is fit again after suffering minor concussion. Tottenham have doubts surrounding the fitness of Gareth Bale,Jermaine Defoe and Sandro as well as their influential skipper Ledley King. Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjcar remain long term absentees.

Possible Line-Ups

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Woodgate, Shawcross, Huth, Etherington, Wilson, Whelan, Pennant, Crouch, Walters. Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Assou-Ekotto, Gallas, Kaboul, Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Adebayor.
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