Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview 9

Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley

White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs

Saturday 26th September 2009, Kick Off 15:00

Premier League, Match 7

Tottenham Hotspur: 6th Premier League, 12 points from 18

Burnley: 9th Premier League, 9 points from 18

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Ceri Richards & Simon Beck

Fourth official: Andrew Penn

COMMENT:

Tottenham Hotspur host founder-members of the Football League Burnley for the first time in a League match since November 1977 when Spurs won 3-0 in a Second Division match. The clubs have met since then seven times in the League (Carling) Cup, most recently in last season's semi-final which Spurs won 4-1 at home before losing the return leg 2-3 at Turf Moor.

Spurs will be looking to get back into winning habits after losing to both Manchester United and Chelsea while Burnley are proving more than a handful for many teams in the Premier League and should not be underestimated.

The two clubs had very mixed fortunes in the League (Carling) Cup midweek. Spurs went to Deepdale and had an impressive 5-1 win over Preston North End thanks to a Peter Crouch hat-trick and goals from Jermain Defoe & Robbie Keane. A day earlier, Burnley were knocked-out of the competition away to Barnsley 3-2.

TEAM NEWS

Harry Redknapp is hopeful Sebastien Bassong will be fit to face Burnley on Saturday. The central defender was stretchered off with a head and neck injury at Chelsea last Sunday and picked up a knee problem in the same match. Cleared by a head and neck specialist earlier in the week, Sebastien will have a late fitness test before Harry makes a final decision for Burnley. "He feels alright so hopefully it won't be a problem," reported Harry after training on Friday.

Ledley King also had to leave the action early at Stamford Bridge and scans have showed a mild hamstring strain, ruling him out for this weekend. Giovani is out of the reckoning after picking up an ankle injury in Wednesday night's 5-1 win at Preston in the Carling Cup. He will be scanned once the swelling goes down. Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (Achilles) are also out for Burnley. Roman is running again and the news is good on Woody after the defender had an injection last week.

Harry added: "Jonathan's injury feels easier after the injection and we're hoping that does the trick rather than having further surgery."

Luka Modric continues his rehabilitation from a fractured fibula.

Burnley have been rocked by the news that Martin Paterson and Chris McCann are out with serious knee injuries.

The Clarets hope keeper Brian Jensen, who suffered a dead leg in midweek, will be fit to play at White Hart Lane.

BIG MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• Spurs and Burnley met in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup last season and both games saw five goals scored.

• The last time they met in the league was in the second tier (old Division Two) in the 1978-79 season - Tottenham won 3-0 at White Hart Lane and Burnley prevailed 2-1 at Turf Moor.

• The overall record between the two sides is: 40 wins for Tottenham, 39 wins for Burnley and 24 draws.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Spurs have gone eight league games without a clean sheet and Carlo Cudicini has been the busiest 'keeper in the Premier League this season, making 5.4 saves per game on average.

• This is only the sixth time in 18 Premier League seasons that Tottenham have conceded 10 or more goals in their opening six games.

• Tottenham's record of 12 goals after six games is their best in Premier League history.

Burnley

• Burnley have committed only 50 fouls so far this season - fewer than any other team.

• The Clarets haven't won a top-flight away game since beating Newcastle in April 1976.

• Burnley haven't won at White Hart Lane in the league since October 1974.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Tottenham

Defoe: 6 goals (5 league); Crouch: 5 goals (1 league)

Burnley

Fletcher: 3 goals (0 league) Nugent: 2 goals (2 league)

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Tottenham (L 0-3 v Chelsea, a):

Cudicini, Corluka, King (Hutton 48), Bassong (Kranjcar 82), Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Huddlestone, Palacios, Defoe (Crouch 67), Keane.

Subs Not Used: Gomes, Bentley, Naughton, Giovani.

Burnley (W 3-1 v Sunderland, h):

Jensen, Mears, Carlisle, Bikey, Jordan, Elliott, Alexander, McCann (Gudjonsson 28), Blake, Steven Fletcher (Eagles 64), Paterson (Nugent 57). Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald, Thompson, Guerrero.

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Tottenham started really well but now they have played - and lost to - two of the top four and it's been a bit of a reality check for them. They now know they have still got quite a long way to go to get up there themselves. In saying that, they could finish, along with Man City, top of the rest of the league.

Burnley have not been good on the road, and have suffered a couple of injuries in the last week too - Martin Paterson is out for a while and so is Chris McCann, who are both players they will miss.

Tottenham have got an embarrassment of riches up front so I can't see them struggling to score goals in this one.

Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Burnley

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday afternoon's match will be the 105th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley.

Spurs beat Burnley 3-1 in the 1962 FA Cup Final 3-1 and the two clubs also contested the 1921 Charity Shield, which Spurs won 2-0.

Here are the results of all the previous 104 games with Spurs' score shown first:

07-Dec-1903

Friendly

4 - 0

Warner, Badger (2), Cameron

13-Jan-06

F.A. Cup 1

20,000

2 - 0

Woodward, Kyle

12-Dec-08

Division 2

10,000

4 - 2

Minter, Woodward (2), Steel R

20-Feb-09

F.A. Cup 3

21,838

0 - 0

24-Feb-09

F.A. Cup 3 Replay

30,000

1 - 3

Coquet (pen)

17-Apr-09

Division 2

8,000

2 - 1

Woodward (2)

18-Oct-13

Division 1

22,000

1 - 3

Cantrell

21-Feb-14

Division 1

15,000

2 - 0

Walden (pen), Bliss

19-Sep-14

Division 1

25,000

1 - 3

Bliss

23-Jan-15

Division 1

4,000

1 - 3

Cantrell

23-Oct-20

Division 1

39,661

1 - 2

Banks

30-Oct-20

Division 1

40,000

0 - 2

16-May-21Charity Shield 18,000H W 2 - 0 Cantrell, Bliss

19-Nov-21

Division 1

45,000

1 - 1

Seed

26-Nov-21

Division 1

25,000

0 - 1

09-Sep-22

Division 1

39,434

1 - 3

Cantrell

16-Sep-22

Division 1

20,000

1 - 0

Bliss

26-Apr-24

Division 1

50,000

2 - 2

Elkes, Hargreaves

03-May-24

Division 1

20,000

1 - 0

Elkes

11-Oct-24

Division 1

23,508

1 - 1

Handley

14-Feb-25

Division 1

18,000

4 - 1

Clay (pen), Thompson, Seed, Lane

12-Dec-25

Division 1

18,592

2 - 1

Osborne, Dimmock

24-Apr-26

Division 1

21,211

0 - 2

20-Nov-26

Division 1

17,957

0 - 5

09-Apr-27

Division 1

15,481

4 - 1

O'Callaghan, Sanders (2), Dimmock

03-Dec-27

Division 1

20,404

5 - 0

Handley, O'Callaghan, Osborne (2), Dimmock

14-Apr-28

Division 1

10,906

2 - 2

Osborne, Dimmock

01-Sep-30

Division 2

23,518

8 - 1

Davies, O'Callaghan (2), Harper (2), Cook (3)

02-May-31

Division 2

10,077

0 - 1

10-Oct-31

Division 2

28,877

1 - 1

Harper

20-Feb-32

Division 2

7,517

0 - 2

15-Oct-32

Division 2

26,097

4 - 1

Howe, Hunt GS, Greenfield, Evans W

14-Apr-33

Division 2

11,353

1 - 1

Hunt GS

12-Oct-35

Division 2

34,483

5 - 1

Howe, Morrison (2), Hall GW, Evans W

20-Apr-36

Division 2

8,567

0 - 0

10-Oct-36

Division 2

20,447

1 - 3

Morrison

13-Feb-37

Division 2

30,283

3 - 0

McCormick, Morrison, Miller

30-Aug-37

Division 2

13,766

4 - 0

Ward (pen), Morrison (3)

06-Sep-37

Division 2

11,187

1 - 2

Miller

26-Dec-38

Division 2

15,629

0 - 1

27-Dec-38

Division 2

30,276

1 - 0

Duncan

05-Oct-46

Division 2

44,351

1 - 1

Medley

18-Feb-47

Division 2

28,462

0 - 0

07-Oct-50

Division 1

46,518

1 - 0

Medley

24-Feb-51

Division 1

33,047

0 - 2

03-Sep-51

Division 1

27,045

1 - 1

Bennett

10-Sep-51

Division 1

35,948

1 - 1

Ramsey (pen)

27-Sep-52

Division 1

43,031

2 - 1

Duquemin, Medley

17-Feb-53

Division 1

13,771

2 - 3

Baily, Duquemin

07-Sep-53

Division 1

34,280

2 - 4

Walters, Robb

16-Sep-53

Division 1

30,472

2 - 3

Duquemin (2)

27-Nov-54

Division 1

21,973

2 - 1

Gavin, Baily

16-Apr-55

Division 1

23,555

0 - 3

20-Aug-55

Division 1

33,178

0 - 1

17-Dec-55

Division 1

20,346

0 - 2

27-Oct-56

Division 1

49,154

2 - 0

Medwin, Harmer (pen)

29-Apr-57

Division 1

12,048

0 - 1

07-Sep-57

Division 1

40,108

3 - 1

Dunmore (2), Dulin

11-Jan-58

Division 1

25,927

0 - 2

13-Dec-58

Division 1

17,047

1 - 3

Stokes

08-Apr-59

Division 1

32,296

2 - 2

Smith R (2)

03-Oct-59

Division 1

42,717

1 - 1

Medwin

01-Mar-60

Division 1

32,992

0 - 2

03-Dec-60

Division 1

58,737

4 - 4

Norman, Mackay, Jones (2)

18-Mar-61

F.A. Cup SF

69,968

Villa Park

3 - 0

Jones, Smith R (2)

22-Apr-61

Division 1

28,991

2 - 4

Baker, Smith R

28-Oct-61

Division 1

56,772

4 - 2

Jones (2), Saul, Clayton

17-Mar-62

Division 1

46,810

2 - 2

Greaves, Jones

05-May-62F.A. Cup Final 100,000F Wembley3 - 1 Blanchflower (pen), Smith R, Greaves

24-Nov-62

Division 1

44,478

1 - 2

Greaves

16-Jan-63

F.A. Cup 3

32,756

0 - 3

30-Mar-63

Division 1

46,536

1 - 1

Greaves

16-Nov-63

Division 1

42,222

3 - 2

Norman, Smith R (2)

21-Apr-64

Division 1

16,660

2 - 7

Jones, Greaves

25-Aug-64

Division 1

21,661

2 - 2

Greaves, Saul

02-Sep-64

Division 1

42,326

4 - 1

Saul (3), Dyson

04-Dec-65

Division 1

19,509

1 - 1

Clayton

12-Feb-66

F.A. Cup 4

50,611

4 - 3

Gilzean (3), Saul

30-Apr-66

Division 1

29,337

0 - 1

17-Sep-66

Division 1

25,184

2 - 2

Greaves, Saul

21-Jan-67

Division 1

42,187

2 - 0

Greaves, Jones

02-Sep-67

Division 1

23,337

1 - 5

Greaves

30-Mar-68

Division 1

26,494

5 - 0

England, Greaves (2), Venables, Jones

07-Sep-68

Division 1

30,167

7 - 0

Jones (2), Robertson, Greaves (3, 1pen), Chivers

29-Mar-69

Division 1

14,547

2 - 2

Johnson, Pearce

13-Aug-69

Division 1

35,920

4 - 0

Collins, Pearce, Greaves, Chivers

19-Aug-69

Division 1

19,485

2 - 0

Collins, Pearce

07-Nov-70

Division 1

30,524

4 - 0

Gilzean, Perryman, Chivers (2)

20-Mar-71

Division 1

16,376

0 - 0

05-Sep-73

Division 1

25,543

2 - 3

Knowles, Chivers

11-Sep-73

Division 1

25,158

2 - 2

Holder, Peters

05-Oct-74

Division 1

18,441

2 - 3

Pratt, England

12-Apr-75

Division 1

17,865

2 - 3

Perryman, Duncan

29-Nov-75

Division 1

21,222

2 - 1

Duncan (2)

20-Mar-76

Division 1

15,490

2 - 1

Pratt, Duncan

05-Nov-77

Division 2

30,634

3 - 0

Hoddle, McNab, Taylor

01-Apr-78

Division 2

16,916

1 - 2

Taylor

19-Jan-83

League Cup 5

30,771

1 - 4

Gibson

22-Sep-93

League Cup 2 (1L)

16,844

0 - 0

06-Oct-93

League Cup 2 (2L)

20,614

3 - 1

Sheringham (2), Howells

06-Nov-2002

League Cup 3

13,512

1 - 2

Poyet

09-Nov-04

League Cup 4

10,639

3 - 0

Keane (2), Defoe

06-Jan-09

League Cup SF (1L)

31,377

4 - 1

Dawson, O'Hara, Pavlyuchenko, Duff og

21-Jan-09

League Cup SF (2L)

19,533

2 - 3

(a.e.t) Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Spurs won 6-4 on agg)

26-Sep-09

FA Prem

09-May-10

FA Prem

LAST TIME WE MET

Burnley 3-2 Tottenham (agg 4-6)

21st January 2009, League (Carling) Cup Semi-Final, Second Leg, Turf Moor

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe scored late in extra-time to break Burnley's hearts and send Tottenham through to the Carling Cup final.

Burnley had been two minutes away from reaching Wembley as they led on the away goals rule with them 3-0 up on the night and the aggregate score at 4-4.

Robbie Blake put the Clarets ahead on the night and Chris McCann made it 2-0.

Jay Rodriguez forced extra-time with a volley, but strikes from Pavlyuchenko and Defoe won it for Spurs.

It was a devastating blow for Burnley, who had looked set to complete a sensational comeback against opponents who were rated at 1-100 to reach the final before the incredible events unfolded at Turf Moor.

Spurs will be hugely relieved, and are highly fortunate to go through after they produced a lethargic approach and some awful finishing that very nearly cost them.

Burnley had given warning that they would be no pushovers after a decent first-leg display at White Hart Lane that belied the scoreline.

And they must be given tremendous credit for their spirit, belief and desire which almost brought them a result that would have given Tottenham nightmares not suffered since 2004 when they lost 4-3 to Manchester City in the FA Cup, despite leading 3-0 at half-time and playing against 10 men.

Burnley's best chance of achieving what many people believed to be impossible was always to score early on and put Spurs under pressure.

And they were almost gifted that dream scenario when Benoit Assou-Ekotto chipped the ball back to his keeper from 30 yards out and Ben Alnwick had to scramble backwards to claw the ball wide as it threatened to sail over his head.

It seemed to set a pattern for Spurs, who proceeded to play with a lack of care.

Aside from a skidding Defoe shot, that was pushed wide by Brian Jensen, the visitors struggled to get out of their own half.

Dominating both territory and possession, Burnley must have sensed that they could at very least give the aggregate scoreline some respectability.

But it was easy to see why Burnley had won only once in their last six matches as they struggled to create any clear-cut openings.

McCann shot wide from 20 yards, while Wade Elliot tamely chipped off target from inside the box.

But then Burnley got the breakthrough their all-round play had deserved.

When Blake lined up a free-kick, he was offered a significant portion of the goal to aim at as Alnwick took up a woeful position, and the forward duly curled the ball into the space.

Just as the hosts looked to build, they lost Stephen Jordan to injury and had to replace him with Christian Kalvanes.

While the reshuffle did affect them, it was more a case of the conditions preventing Burnley dominating the match after the break.

With the strong wind against them - and Tottenham in less lethargic mood - the game had a more even feel to it.

And had Luka Modric kept his shot down, after a superb turn had earned him space, Spurs would have completely killed off Burnley's hopes of a comeback.

The Londoners got an even better chance to seal their passage to the next round when substitute Gareth Bale, on for the injured Jamie O'Hara, was clean through but he screwed his shot hopelessly wide.

Instead it had the effect of stirring the hosts into redoubling their efforts and the inspirational Blake squared to Paterson, but he blazed over.

Blake, though, was rewarded later for some superb work on the wing, where he beat two players before squaring the ball for McCann to slot in from six yards.

Now the comeback was well and truly on and Burnley piled forward in search of a third goal, which would send them through to the final on the away goals rule in extra-time.

However, it meant there was space at the back for Tottenham to exploit and they should have wrapped up the tie when Bale played in substitute Pavlyuchenko but he spooned the ball wide from close-range.

It was a miss that was to prove costly as Burnley made it 3-0 and forced extra-time when Rodriguez slammed in after Alnwick had dropped Blake's free-kick.

Yet there was to be another twist in the tale of a match that will be talked about for decades.

As the Burnley players' legs tired, Assou-Ekotto pulled the ball back to Pavlyuchenko, who smashed the ball in to put Spurs ahead on aggregate - and keep up his record of scoring in every round of the competition.

Burnley's misery was compounded when Defoe beat his marker and bent in a shot from the edge of the penalty area to seal Tottenham's date with Manchester United at Wembley.

Burnley:

Jensen, Alexander, Duff, Carlisle, Jordan (Kalvenes 39), Elliott, Eagles, Gudjonsson (Rodriguez 81), McCann, Blake, Paterson (Akinbiyi 100).

Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald, Mahon, MacDonald.

Booked: McCann, Duff.

Goals: Blake 34, McCann 73, Rodriguez 88.

Tottenham Hotspur:

Alnwick, Gunter (Taarabt 95), Woodgate, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Zokora, Huddlestone, O'Hara (Bale 62), Modric (Pavlyuchenko 65), Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Cesar, Giovani, Campbell, Rocha.

Booked: Bentley.

Goals: Pavlyuchenko 118, Defoe 120.

Att: 19,533

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).