Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview: Season 2009-10
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Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City
White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs
Saturday 29th August 2009, Kick Off 15:00
Premier League, Match 4
Referee: Mike Jones
Assistant referees: Adam Watts and Simon Long
Fourth official: Peter Walton
Tottenham Hotspur: 1st Premier League, 9 points from 9
Birmingham City: 8th Premier League, 4 points from 9
COMMENT:
Tottenham Hotspur host newly promoted Birmingham City in the rare position of being Premier League leaders after the first three fixtures and fresh from a very emphatic League Cup away win at Doncaster Rovers, where many of the fringe players had a chance to shine in a 5-1 win.
Any thoughts that the game against Birmingham will be a foregone conclusion must be swiftly put aside, as the West Midlands club did the "double" over Spurs the last time they were in the Premier League during season 2007-08. On the other hand, that win at White Hart Lane was the only one in their last 14 trips to London for Birmingham. Harry Redknapp will be keen to maintain Tottenham's momentum in the early part of the season and seek to add to the already record-breaking start the club has enjoyed in the Premier League.
If Spurs can manage a fourth successive League win, it would mean that 12 points would have been amassed compared with just the one point at the same stage last season after four matches - an incredible improvement!
Birmingham also progressed to the third round of the League Cup by beating Southampton away 2-1 in mid-week. They have had mixed fortunes in the Premier League so far with a 1-0 away defeat at Manchester United followed by a 1-0 home win over Portsmouth and most recently a goalless home draw against Stoke City - the only draw so far recorded in the Premier League this season.
TEAM NEWS:
Tottenham's injury list includes Heurelho Gomes, Jonathan Woodgate, Gareth Bale Michael Dawson and Jermaine Jenas. Benoit Assou-Ekotto should return to Tottenham's starting XI after picking-up an ankle injury against West Ham. It's very likely that only Carlo Cudicini, Vedran Corluka, Sebastien Bassong and Tom Huddlestone will start from the team which beat Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup on Wednesday night. Pascal Chimbonda's future will be at Blackburn Rovers, rather than at Spurs now his transfer has been finalised for an undisclosed sum (thought to be around 2 million pounds).
Birmingham City have recently signed Tottenham Hotspur's old Irish international right back Stephen Carr and he is the only current player from either side who has been with both clubs. James McFaddon is the only Birmingham player to score in the League this season while Lee Bowyer and Lee Carsley found the net in the League Cup game.
Birmingham's Kevin Phillips (back) and Keith Fahey (bereavement) return to the squad after missing the midweek Carling Cup win over Southampton. Gregory Vignal could return from a hip injury, or else former Spurs defender Stephen Carr will stay at left-back.
Birmingham's injury list: Bent (hamstring), Dann (groin), Jerome (ankle), Johnson (unspecified), Murphy (fractured kneecap), Mutch (ankle), Ridgewell (broken leg), Taylor (ankle).
"They (Spurs) have captivated the country with their imaginative football and we know we are in for a game. Harry's certainly got the riches, but Harry builds a team ever so cleverly".
- Birmingham manager Alex McLeish
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Birmingham did the double over Tottenham the last time they were in the Premier League, winning 3-2 at White Hart Lane and 4-1 at St Andrews in the 2007/08 season.
• Only one of the last nine Premier League meetings between these sides has ended level.
• The Blues have won only one of their last 14 Premier League visits to London since 2004, but that was at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Hotspur
• Spurs have already won more league games in 2009 (12) than they did in the whole of 2008 (10).
• Robbie Keane has scored six goals in his last seven starts against Birmingham.
• Tottenham have made their best start since 1960/61 when they won their first 11 games on the way to a League & FA Cup double.
• Tottenham have not lost at White Hart Lane since Everton beat them in November.
Birmingham City
• There have only been two goals scored in Birmingham's three Premier League games so far.
• Birmingham have had four points after four games in all but one of their five previous Premier League seasons (the exception was eight points in 2003/04).
• Former Spurs player Steve Carr could play for the Blues on his 33rd birthday.
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Tottenham Hotspur (W 2-1 v West Ham, a):
Cudicini, Corluka, Bassong, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Modric (O'Hara 86), Keane (Crouch 81), Defoe (Naughton 90).
Subs not used: Button, Hutton, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko.
Birmingham City (D 0-0 v Stoke, h):
Hart, Parnaby, Queudrue, Roger Johnson, Carr, Bowyer (Larsson 61), Ferguson, Fahey, McFadden, O'Connor, Phillips (Benitez 53).
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Espinoza, McSheffrey, O'Shea, Carsley.
MARK LAWRENSON"S PREDICTION (BBC):
I love the fact someone asked Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp whether he could compare the current team to the double-winning team of 1961 - they've only won three games!
Yes, they will challenge the top six and yes, they have the makings of a good team.
I do think they will beat Birmingham, who got a point last week and were fortunate against Portsmouth.
Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Birmingham City
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Saturday afternoon's match will be the 97th meeting between Spurs and Birmingham. Here are the results of the previous 96 games with Spurs' score shown first:
24-Feb-1906
F.A. Cup 3 28,000H D 1 - 1 Kyle
F.A. Cup 3 28,000H D 1 - 1 Kyle28-Feb-06F.A. Cup 3 Replay34,000A L 0 - 2 (a.e.t)
F.A. Cup 3 Replay34,000A L 0 - 2 (a.e.t) 14-Nov-08Division 2 25,000H W 4 - 0 Woodward (2), Middlemiss (2)
Division 2 25,000H W 4 - 0 Woodward (2), Middlemiss (2)20-Mar-09Division 2 8,000A D 3 - 3 Steel D, Woodward, Steel R
Division 2 8,000A D 3 - 3 Steel D, Woodward, Steel R26-Apr-20Division 2 30,000H D 0 - 0
Division 2 30,000H D 0 - 0 01-May-20Division 2 39,000A W 1 - 0 Seed
Division 2 39,000A W 1 - 0 Seed 01-Apr-22Division 1 34,000A W 3 - 0 Clay (pen), Seed, Roulsen og
Division 1 34,000A W 3 - 0 Clay (pen), Seed, Roulsen og08-Apr-22Division 1 19,638H W 2 - 1 Lindsay, Jones og
Division 1 19,638H W 2 - 1 Lindsay, Jones og 14-Apr-23Division 1 15,000A L 1 - 2 Lindsay
Division 1 15,000A L 1 - 2 Lindsay 21-Apr-23Division 1 16,335H W 2 - 0 Lindsay (2)
Division 1 16,335H W 2 - 0 Lindsay (2) 29-Dec-23Division 1 24,414H D 1 - 1 Lindsay
Division 1 24,414H D 1 - 1 Lindsay 05-Jan-24Division 1 25,000A L 2 - 3 Thompson, Elkes
Division 1 25,000A L 2 - 3 Thompson, Elkes 03-Sep-24Division 1 20,000A W 2 - 0 Seed, Dimmock
Division 1 20,000A W 2 - 0 Seed, Dimmock 10-Apr-25Division 1 30,411H L 0 - 1
Division 1 30,411H L 0 - 1 25-Dec-25Division 1 29,586A L 1 - 3 Clay (pen)
Division 1 29,586A L 1 - 3 Clay (pen) 26-Dec-25Division 1 44,429H W 2 - 1 Seed, Osborne
Division 1 44,429H W 2 - 1 Seed, Osborne 09-Oct-26Division 1 29,392H W 6 - 1 Blair (2), Roe (2), Seed, Dimmock
Division 1 29,392H W 6 - 1 Blair (2), Roe (2), Seed, Dimmock26-Feb-27Division 1 21,145A L 0 - 1
Division 1 21,145A L 0 - 1 27-Aug-27Division 1 37,408H W 1 - 0 O'Callaghan
Division 1 37,408H W 1 - 0 O'Callaghan 31-Dec-27Division 1 11,603A L 2 - 3 O'Callaghan, Womack og
Division 1 11,603A L 2 - 3 O'Callaghan, Womack og 09-Dec-33Division 1 26,142H W 3 - 2 Howe, Hunt GS (2)
Division 1 26,142H W 3 - 2 Howe, Hunt GS (2) 21-Apr-34Division 1 24,576A L 0 - 2
Division 1 24,576A L 0 - 2 01-Dec-34Division 1 20,546A L 1 - 2 O'Callaghan
Division 1 20,546A L 1 - 2 O'Callaghan 13-Apr-35Division 1 27,190H D 1 - 1 Bell
Division 1 27,190H D 1 - 1 Bell 26-Aug-39Division 2 28,366A D 1 - 1 Sargent (Season abandoned due to WWII)
Division 2 28,366A D 1 - 1 Sargent (Season abandoned due to WWII)06-Oct-45Football Lge Sth 21,608A L 0 - 8
Football Lge Sth 21,608A L 0 - 8 13-Oct-45Football Lge Sth 30,589H L 0 - 1
Football Lge Sth 30,589H L 0 - 1 31-Aug-46Division 2 51,256H L 1 - 2 Foreman
Division 2 51,256H L 1 - 2 Foreman 28-Dec-46Division 2 44,171A L 0 - 1
Division 2 44,171A L 0 - 1 13-Dec-47Division 2 53,730H L 1 - 2 Baily
Division 2 53,730H L 1 - 2 Baily 01-May-48Division 2 35,569A D 0 - 0
Division 2 35,569A D 0 - 0 28-Feb-53F.A. Cup 6 52,348A D 1 - 1 Bennett
F.A. Cup 6 52,348A D 1 - 1 Bennett 04-Mar-53F.A. Cup 6 Replay59,543H D 2 - 2 Bennett,Duquemin
F.A. Cup 6 Replay59,543H D 2 - 2 Bennett,Duquemin 09-Mar-53F.A. Cup 6 2nd Replay50,801Mol W 1 - 0 Walters
F.A. Cup 6 2nd Replay50,801Mol W 1 - 0 Walters 01-Oct-55Division 1 31,320A L 0 - 3
Division 1 31,320A L 0 - 3 11-Feb-56Division 1 26,141H L 0 - 1
Division 1 26,141H L 0 - 1 01-Dec-56Division 1 38,035A D 0 - 0
Division 1 38,035A D 0 - 0 13-Apr-57Division 1 33,512H W 5 - 1 Medwin, Harmer (pen), Dunmore (2), Dyson
Division 1 33,512H W 5 - 1 Medwin, Harmer (pen), Dunmore (2), Dyson11-Sep-57Division 1 26,485A D 0 - 0
Division 1 26,485A D 0 - 0 18-Sep-57Division 1 35,292H W 7 - 1 Harmer (pen), Stokes (5), Dyson
Division 1 35,292H W 7 - 1 Harmer (pen), Stokes (5), Dyson22-Nov-58Division 1 28,708H L 0 - 4
Division 1 28,708H L 0 - 4 11-Apr-59Division 1 20,557A L 1 - 5 Jones (pen)
Division 1 20,557A L 1 - 5 Jones (pen) 29-Aug-59Division 1 45,243H D 0 - 0
Division 1 45,243H D 0 - 0 02-Jan-60Division 1 27,558A W 1 - 0 Allen
Division 1 27,558A W 1 - 0 Allen 19-Nov-60Division 1 46,010H W 6 - 0 Jones (2), White, Smith (pen), Dyson (2)
Division 1 46,010H W 6 - 0 Jones (2), White, Smith (pen), Dyson (2)08-Apr-61Division 1 40,961A W 3 - 2 White, Smith R, Allen
Division 1 40,961A W 3 - 2 White, Smith R, Allen 09-Dec-61Division 1 32,509H W 3 - 1 Allen (2), Mackay
Division 1 32,509H W 3 - 1 Allen (2), Mackay 06-Jan-62F.A. Cup 3 46,096A D 3 - 3 Greaves (2), Jones
F.A. Cup 3 46,096A D 3 - 3 Greaves (2), Jones 10-Jan-62F.A. Cup 3 Replay62,917H W 4 - 2 Medwin (2), Allen, Greaves
F.A. Cup 3 Replay62,917H W 4 - 2 Medwin (2), Allen, Greaves28-Apr-62Division 1 29,614A W 3 - 2 Mackay, Greaves (2)
Division 1 29,614A W 3 - 2 Mackay, Greaves (2) 18-Aug-62Division 1 51,140H W 3 - 0 Blanchflower (pen), Greaves, Jones
Division 1 51,140H W 3 - 0 Blanchflower (pen), Greaves, Jones15-Dec-62Division 1 36,623A W 2 - 0 Smith R, Greaves
Division 1 36,623A W 2 - 0 Smith R, Greaves 02-Oct-63Division 1 37,649H W 6 - 1 White, Smith R, Greaves (3, 1pen), Dyson
Division 1 37,649H W 6 - 1 White, Smith R, Greaves (3, 1pen), Dyson29-Feb-64Division 1 28,433A W 2 - 1 Jones, Greaves (pen)
Division 1 28,433A W 2 - 1 Jones, Greaves (pen) 05-Sep-64Division 1 34,809H W 4 - 1 Robertson, Greaves, Dyson, Foster og
Division 1 34,809H W 4 - 1 Robertson, Greaves, Dyson, Foster og02-Jan-65Division 1 33,833A L 0 - 1
Division 1 33,833A L 0 - 1 08-Apr-67F.A. Cup 6 51,500A D 0 - 0
F.A. Cup 6 51,500A D 0 - 0 12-Apr-67F.A. Cup 6 Replay52,304H W 6 - 0 Greaves (2), Gilzean, Venables (2), Saul
F.A. Cup 6 Replay52,304H W 6 - 0 Greaves (2), Gilzean, Venables (2), Saul23-Aug-72Division 1 30,798H W 2 - 0 Chivers, Coates
Division 1 30,798H W 2 - 0 Chivers, Coates 04-Nov-72Division 1 38,504A D 0 - 0
Division 1 38,504A D 0 - 0 28-Aug-73Division 1 37,754A W 2 - 1 Peters (2)
Division 1 37,754A W 2 - 1 Peters (2) 06-Feb-74Division 1 14,345H W 4 - 2 Chivers (3), Dillon
Division 1 14,345H W 4 - 2 Chivers (3), Dillon 23-Nov-74Division 1 27,761H D 0 - 0
Division 1 27,761H D 0 - 0 18-Feb-75Division 1 24,240A L 0 - 1
Division 1 24,240A L 0 - 1 26-Dec-75Division 1 21,651H L 1 - 3 Chivers (pen)
Division 1 21,651H L 1 - 3 Chivers (pen) 17-Apr-76Division 1 30,616A L 1 - 3 Pratt
Division 1 30,616A L 1 - 3 Pratt 20-Oct-76Division 1 20,193H W 1 - 0 Osgood (pen)
Division 1 20,193H W 1 - 0 Osgood (pen) 19-Mar-77Division 1 23,398A W 2 - 1 Jones, Hoddle
Division 1 23,398A W 2 - 1 Jones, Hoddle 14-Oct-78Division 1 41,230H W 1 - 0 Ainscow og
Division 1 41,230H W 1 - 0 Ainscow og 24-Feb-79Division 1 20,980A L 0 - 1
Division 1 20,980A L 0 - 1 16-Feb-80F.A. Cup 5 49,936H W 3 - 1 Armstrong, Hoddle (2, 1pen)
F.A. Cup 5 49,936H W 3 - 1 Armstrong, Hoddle (2, 1pen)22-Nov-80Division 1 24,817A L 1 - 2 Ardiles
Division 1 24,817A L 1 - 2 Ardiles 10-Jan-81Division 1 24,909H W 1 - 0 Crooks
Division 1 24,909H W 1 - 0 Crooks 23-Mar-82Division 1 17,708A D 0 - 0
Division 1 17,708A D 0 - 0 28-Apr-82Division 1 25,470H D 1 - 1 Villa
Division 1 25,470H D 1 - 1 Villa 18-Dec-82Division 1 20,946H W 2 - 1 Mabbutt (2)
Division 1 20,946H W 2 - 1 Mabbutt (2) 07-May-83Division 1 18,947A L 0 - 2
Division 1 18,947A L 0 - 2 22-Oct-83Division 1 18,937A W 1 - 0 Archibald
Division 1 18,937A W 1 - 0 Archibald 25-Feb-84Division 1 23,564H L 0 - 1
Division 1 23,564H L 0 - 1 15-Mar-86Division 1 9,394A W 2 - 1 Stevens, Waddle
Division 1 9,394A W 2 - 1 Stevens, Waddle 16-Apr-86Division 1 9,359H W 2 - 0 Chiedozie, Falco
Division 1 9,359H W 2 - 0 Chiedozie, Falco 29-Oct-86League Cup 3 15,542H W 5 - 0 Roberts, Allen C (2), Hoddle, Waddle
League Cup 3 15,542H W 5 - 0 Roberts, Allen C (2), Hoddle, Waddle22-Jul-98Friendly 6,070A L 2 - 4 Allen, Vega
Friendly 6,070A L 2 - 4 Allen, Vega 29-Jul-2000Friendly 5,566A W 1 - 0 Iversen
Friendly 5,566A W 1 - 0 Iversen 30-Oct-00League Cup 3 27,096H L 1 - 3 Anderton (pen)
League Cup 3 27,096H L 1 - 3 Anderton (pen) 30-Nov-02FA Prem 29,505A D 1 - 1 Sheringham
FA Prem 29,505A D 1 - 1 Sheringham 05-Apr-03FA Prem 36,058H W 2 - 1 Keane, Poyet
FA Prem 36,058H W 2 - 1 Keane, Poyet 16-Aug-03FA Prem 29,398A L 0 - 1
FA Prem 29,398A L 0 - 1 07-Jan-04FA Prem 30,016H W 4 - 1 Dalmat (2), Davies, Keane
FA Prem 30,016H W 4 - 1 Dalmat (2), Davies, Keane 28-Aug-04FA Prem 35,290H W 1 - 0 Defoe
FA Prem 35,290H W 1 - 0 Defoe 02-Apr-05FA Prem 29,304A D 1 - 1 Kelly
FA Prem 29,304A D 1 - 1 Kelly 26-Dec-05FA Prem 36,045H W 2 - 0 Keane (pen), Defoe
FA Prem 36,045H W 2 - 0 Keane (pen), Defoe 18-Mar-06FA Prem 26,398A W 2 - 0 Lennon, Keane
FA Prem 26,398A W 2 - 0 Lennon, Keane 22-Jul-06Friendly 0A W 2 - 0 Berbatov (2)
Friendly 0A W 2 - 0 Berbatov (2) 02-Dec-07FA Prem 35,635H L 2 - 3 Keane (2, 1pen)
FA Prem 35,635H L 2 - 3 Keane (2, 1pen) 01-Mar-08FA Prem 26,055 A L 1 - 4 Jenas
FA Prem 26,055 A L 1 - 4 Jenas 
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