PREVIEW: Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs
Saturday 16th May, Kick Off 15:00
Premier League, Match 37

REFEREE: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)



COMMENT:

Tottenham entertain Manchester City in the last home match of season 2008-09 fresh from a hard-earned point at Goodison Park against a very good Everton side, while City lost to United 0-2 in the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Spurs are in touching distance of their best defensive home record in League history with just 9 goals conceded in the previous 18 home matches this season. The current record lowest number of goals conceded was 11 in the old Second Division way back in 1919-20.

That season was the first to be played after World War One and it saw our bitter rivals Arsenal steal our Top Flight position due to some very underhand means. Spurs bounced straight back up to the First Division as Champions of Division Two.

Indeed, Spurs have kept a clean sheet in each of the last six home Premier League matches and have only conceded a total of four goals at White Hart Lane in the 14 matches Harry Redknapp has been in charge of Spurs for...



We have already beaten Manchester City away 2-1 this season in November, thanks to a Darren Bent brace and a win on Saturday would be our second "Double" of the season to add to the one achieved over West Ham United.

Our record against City has generally been pretty good with 16 Premier League wins to our credit, four draws and just the three defeats in the 23 matches played between the two clubs so far.

Spurs have won nine of the last ten meetings against City.

Spurs are currently in 8th place and still pushing for the remaining UEFA Europa League place, although Fulham look to be firm favourites at the moment.

TEAM NEWS:

Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Didier Zokora are both fit again after injury to face Manchester City on Saturday.

Left-back Benoit sat out last weekend's game at Everton with a foot injury, and midfielder Didier missed the trip with a groin problem.

However, Aaron Lennon (groin), Darren Bent (knee), and Michael Dawson (ankle) remain sidelined. Giovani Dos Santos, meanwhile, will sit out due to illness.

Jamie O'Hara and Adel Taarabt have both undergone knee operations and will not feature again this season.

And Wilson Palacios is currently back home in Honduras with his family due to personal reasons.

At Friday's press conference, manager Harry Redknapp said: "Wilson's still back home with his family. When he's ready to return, he will, I'll leave that decision to him.

"His family is the most important thing and he has to make sure he is at home taking care of them at the moment."

Tottenham (from):

Gomes, Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Huddlestone, Jenas, Assou-Ekotto, Zokora, Pavlyuchenko, Modric, Keane, Campbell, Chimbonda, Corluka, Defoe, King, Woodgate, Bostock, Parrett, Gilberto.

Man City's Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has been struggling with a knee problem, has returned to training and could be on the bench.

Robinho is out with a groin injury, so Martin Petrov is in line to start.

Man City (from):

Given, Hart, Richards, Dunne, Onuoha, Bridge, Garrido, Zabaleta, Elano, Fernandes, Ireland, De Jong, Kompany, Petrov, Bojinov, Caicedo, Evans, Berti.

BIG MATCH FACTS:

Two of the four clubs involved in the race for seventh spot and Europa League football clash at White Hart Lane. Indeed victory for Tottenham would extinguish the hopes of Manchester City.

City have won one more Premier League game than Spurs, yet find themselves two places below them in the table.

While Premier League matches involving the Citizens have yielded more goals than any other club (104 - 56 for, 48 against), top-flight games at White Hart Lane have produced fewer goals than any other ground (28 - 19 for, nine against).

Tottenham are vying for a fifth successive Premier League win over Manchester City at White Hart Lane. Another victory here would secure their sixth double over the Citizens in this league, and first since 2006-07.

Distance between the clubs: 202 miles (325 kilometres)

CLUB FORM

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

8th 48 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 10th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Ever-presents in the Premier League, but never finished higher than fifth (2005-06 and 2006-07) or lower than 15th, averaging a 10th placed finish.

2. Won three of five Premier League games, losing one of them; 5-2, away to Manchester United on 25 April.

3. The goalless draw, away to Everton, in their last outing was the first time they had failed to score in 11 top-flight matches.

4. Their last four league victories have been by a 1-0 scoreline.

5. Five points up on this same stage last season, when 11th in the table - their final placing. Already accumulated two more points that their total last season.

6. Dropped just eight points from winning positions, drawing one and losing two. Only Chelsea has dropped fewer (seven).

7. Gained twice as many points at home than away; 32 at the Lane, 16 on the road.

8. Won their last five home league games, and not conceded in six. This is their best sequence at the Lane since seven successive victories between 1 October and Boxing Day 2006.

9. Not beaten a North-West club in seven attempts in this league, since the 1-0 home victory over Blackburn on 23 November. Picked up just two of the 21 subsequent available points.

10. Already beaten West Ham, and could also do the double over Manchester City and Liverpool, who they visit on the last day.
Fixtures

MANCHESTER CITY

10th 47 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 7th
Lowest could fall: 10th
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League

1. Victory would mean they had totalled 50 Premier League points under Mark Hughes.

2. Never finished higher than eighth (2004-05) in their 11 Premier League seasons.

3. The current total of 47 points from 36 games is eight points down on this stage last season, but maximum points from the last two games will mean they finish the campaign two points down on their total last season.

4. Won all nine league games in which clean sheets have been kept; lost all 10 top-flight games in which they have failed to score, and the only club not to have registered a goalless draw in this Premier League season.

5. One of four clubs not to have won a Premier League game in which the opening goal has been conceded, and only recouped three Premier League points from losing positions, courtesy of three draws.

6. Lost four of last five away league games, and won one of 16; 1-2 against Everton at Goodison Park on 25 April. Sunderland is the only other club they have beaten on their league travels.

7. Failed to score in six of their eight top-flight matches on the road in 2009, scoring just three goals.

8. Only picked up only 11 points away from the City of Manchester Stadium, as opposed to 36 at Eastlands.

9. Lost their last three away league games against London clubs, and gained one point out of 12 on the road against clubs from the capital, without scoring in the last three.

10. Already lost home and away to Manchester United and Chelsea. Tottenham, and Bolton, who they entertain on the last day, could still do the double over them.
Fixtures

KEY PLAYER NOTES

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Darren BENT is Tottenham's top scorer of Premier League goals with 12.

BENT is also a double shy of 100 career league goals (Ipswich, Charlton and Tottenham).

If selected:-

BENT will be making his 250th career league appearance, and 300th in all club competitions.

Vedran CORLUKA will be facing a former club. The 23 year old Croatia international made 47 appearances (38 in the league) and scored one league goal for Manchester City between August 2007 and his £8.5m move to White Hart Lane in September last year.

MANCHESTER CITY

ROBINHO is the club's top Premier League scorer with 14 goals.

If he scores:-

Shaun WRIGHT-PHILLIPS will reach the milestone of 50 club career goals (Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Chelsea).

If selected:-

Danny MILLS will be playing two days before his 32nd birthday.

If on the field from the outset:-

WRIGHT-PHILLIPS will be making his 200th career league start (Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Chelsea).

HEAD TO HEAD

Manchester City's only victory in 11 Premier League visits to Tottenham was 0-2 on 18 April 2003, with goals from David Sommeil and Joey Barton.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Spurs 44 wins, Man City 45, Draws 30
Prem: Spurs 16 wins, Man City 3, Draws 4

at Spurs only
League (inc PL): Spurs 29 wins, Man City 14, Draws 16
Prem: Spurs 8 wins, Man City 1, Draws 2

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester City
9 December 2007 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Spurs scorers: Keane 10, Berbatov 32
Man City scorer: Mpenza 40

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
9 November 2008 - Ref: Mike Dean
Man City scorer: Robinho 16
Spurs scorers: Bent 29, 64
Sent Off: Fernandes 26, Dunne 83 (Man City), Assou-Ekotto (Spurs) 89

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Spurs are pushing for Europe. They got a good point at Everton and their home form is very, very good.

City are iffy, at best, on the road, although they looked OK at times against Manchester United.

This match is one for neutrals - it'll be a good game of football.

Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Manchester City

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday's game will be the 138th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

The two clubs contested the 1981 FA Cup Final in a replayed match at Wembley which will go down as one of the competition's greatest-ever matches.

Here are the results of all the previous 137 games with Spurs' score shown first:

16-Jan-09 F.A. Cup 1 20,000 A W 4 - 3 Morris (pen), Minter (2), Steel R
27-Dec-10 Division 1 28,000 H D 1 - 1 Tull
03-Jan-11 Division 1 10,000 A L 1 - 2 Kennedy
05-Apr-12 Division 1 39,800 A L 1 - 2 Newman
08-Apr-12 Division 1 20,000 H L 0 - 2
25-Dec-12 Division 1 30,000 A D 2 - 2 Cantrell, Middlemiss
26-Dec-12 Division 1 20,000 H W 4 - 0 Minter, Cantrell (3)
27-Sep-13 Division 1 30,513 H W 3 - 1 Minter (2), Cantrell
24-Jan-14 Division 1 30,000 A L 1 - 2 Sparrow
31-Jan-14 F.A. Cup 2 36,256 A L 1 - 2 Bliss
26-Sep-14 Division 1 13,000 A L 1 - 2 Sparrow
15-Mar-15 Division 1 6,000 H D 2 - 2 Minter, Sparrow
12-Feb-21 Division 1 32,000 H W 2 - 0 Cantrell, Dimmock
09-Mar-21 Division 1 30,000 A L 0 - 2
04-Feb-22 Division 1 20,000 A D 3 - 3 Wilson, Bliss (2)
11-Feb-22 Division 1 43,000 H W 3 - 1 Grimsdell, Bliss, Dimmock
18-Feb-22 F.A. Cup 3 53,810 H W 2 - 1 Wilson, Bliss
03-Mar-23 Division 1 27,963 H W 3 - 1 Walden, Seed, Handley
14-Mar-23 Division 1 25,000 A L 0 - 3
01-Jan-24 Division 1 24,000 A L 0 - 1
21-Apr-24 Division 1 11,739 H W 4 - 1 Elkes, Lindsay, Hargreaves (2)
10-Nov-24 Division 1 10,781 H D 1 - 1 Smith
02-May-25 Division 1 10,000 A L 0 - 1
05-Sep-25 Division 1 35,594 H W 1 - 0 Seed
16-Jan-26 Division 1 25,244 A D 0 - 0
11-Jan-30 F.A. Cup 3 37,000 H D 2 - 2 Osborne, Cook
14-Jan-30 F.A. Cup 3 Replay 37,716 A L 1 - 4 Thompson
02-Dec-33 Division 1 38,021 A L 0 - 2
14-Apr-34 Division 1 24,576 H W 5 - 1 O'Callaghan (2), Hunt GS (2), Evans W
03-Nov-34 Division 1 28,802 A L 1 - 3 Evans W
12-Jan-35 F.A. Cup 3 48,983 H W 1 - 0 Evans W
16-Mar-35 Division 1 43,572 H D 0 - 0
05-Nov-38 Division 2 47,998 A L 0 - 2
11-Mar-39 Division 2 27,426 H L 2 - 3 Hitchens, Hall GW
28-Sep-46 Division 2 55,253 H D 0 - 0
01-Feb-47 Division 2 41,645 A L 0 - 1
06-Oct-51 Division 1 58,163 H L 1 - 2 Bennett
16-Feb-52 Division 1 39,080 A D 1 - 1 Walters
27-Aug-52 Division 1 33,621 A W 1 - 0 Duquemin
01-Sep-52 Division 1 41,113 H D 3 - 3 Ramsey (pen), McClellan, Robb
24-Oct-53 Division 1 37,577 H W 3 - 0 Duquemin, Robb (2)
30-Jan-54 F.A. Cup 4 51,182 A W 1 - 0 Bennett
17-Mar-54 Division 1 9,984 A L 1 - 4 Marchi
11-Dec-54 Division 1 27,052 A D 0 - 0
05-Mar-55 Division 1 35,358 H D 2 - 2 Duquemin (2)
12-Nov-55 Division 1 24,094 A W 2 - 1 McClellan, Dunmore
17-Mar-56 F.A. Cup SF 69,788 SF L 0 - 1
24-Mar-56 Division 1 31,622 H W 2 - 1 Brooks (pen), Smith R
22-Aug-56 Division 1 32,718 A D 2 - 2 Medwin, Brooks
29-Aug-56 Division 1 33,443 H W 3 - 2 Medwin, Harmer (pen), Smith R
28-Sep-57 Division 1 22,497 A L 1 - 5 Brannigan og
08-Feb-58 Division 1 37,539 H W 5 - 1 Smith R (3), Brooks, Robb
01-Nov-58 Division 1 30,601 A L 1 - 5 Smith R
21-Mar-59 Division 1 34,493 H W 3 - 1 Medwin, Smith R, Jones (pen)
31-Oct-59 Division 1 45,506 A W 2 - 1 Mackay, Jones
16-Apr-60 Division 1 49,767 H L 0 - 1
10-Oct-60 Division 1 58,916 H D 1 - 1 Smith R
25-Feb-61 Division 1 40,278 A W 1 - 0 Medwin
14-Oct-61 Division 1 40,561 H W 2 - 0 Medwin, White, Greaves (2), Jones
03-Mar-62 Division 1 31,706 A L 2 - 6 Greaves (2)
01-Sep-62 Division 1 48,758 H W 4 - 2 Blanchflower (pen), Medwin, Greaves, Jones
11-May-63 Division 1 27,784 A L 0 - 1
08-Oct-66 Division 1 32,551 A W 2 - 1 Gilzean (2)
25-Feb-67 Division 1 33,832 H D 1 - 1 Robertson
09-Dec-67 Division 1 35,792 A L 1 - 4 Greaves
04-May-68 Division 1 51,242 H L 1 - 3 Greaves (pen)
12-Oct-68 Division 1 38,019 A L 0 - 4
14-Dec-68 Division 1 28,462 H D 1 - 1 England
01-Mar-69 F.A. Cup 6 48,872 A L 0 - 1
13-Sep-69 Division 1 41,644 H L 0 - 3
13-Dec-69 Division 1 29,216 A D 1 - 1 Johnson
26-Sep-70 Division 1 42,490 H W 2 - 0 Gilzean, Chivers
01-May-71 Division 1 19,761 A W 1 - 0 Perryman
28-Aug-71 Division 1 33,683 A L 0 - 4
08-Jan-72 Division 1 36,470 H D 1 - 1 Peters
16-Sep-72 Division 1 31,755 A L 1 - 2 Peters
10-Feb-73 Division 1 30,944 H L 2 - 3 Chivers (2)
15-Dec-73 Division 1 17,066 H L 0 - 2
02-Feb-74 Division 1 24,652 A D 0 - 0
21-Aug-74 Division 1 31,549 A L 0 - 1
28-Aug-74 Division 1 20,079 H L 1 - 2 Peters
18-Oct-75 Division 1 30,554 H D 2 - 2 Jones (2)
22-Nov-75 Division 1 31,457 A L 1 - 2 Osgood
11-Dec-76 Division 1 24,608 H D 2 - 2 Taylor (2)
07-May-77 Division 1 37,919 A L 0 - 5
23-Sep-78 Division 1 43,471 A L 0 - 2
03-Feb-79 Division 1 32,037 H L 0 - 3
01-Sep-79 Division 1 30,901 H W 2 - 1 Jones, Hoddle
12-Jan-80 Division 1 34,837 A D 1 - 1 Hoddle
22-Oct-80 Division 1 28,788 A L 1 - 3 Hoddle
13-Dec-80 Division 1 23,883 H W 2 - 1 Archibald, Hoddle
09-May-81 F.A. Cup Final 100,000 W D 1 - 1 Hutchinson og
14-May-81 F.A. Cup Final Replay 96,000 W W 3 - 2 Villa(2), Crooks
26-Sep-81 Division 1 39,085 A W 1 - 0 Falco
20-Feb-82 Division 1 46,181 H W 2 - 0 Hoddle (2, 1pen)
11-Sep-82 Division 1 32,483 H L 1 - 2 Mabbutt
05-Feb-83 Division 1 26,357 A D 2 - 2 Gibson, Brooke (pen)
16-Aug-84 Friendly - A W 2 - 0 Roberts (pen), Galvin
31-Aug-85 Division 1 27,789 A L 1 - 2 Miller
18-Jan-86 Division 1 17,009 H L 0 - 2
30-Aug-86 Division 1 23,164 H W 1 - 0 Roberts
15-Apr-87 Division 1 21,460 A D 1 - 1 Claesen
28-Aug-89 Division 1 32,004 A D 1 - 1 Gascoigne
13-Jan-90 Division 1 26,384 H D 1 - 1 Howells
25-Aug-90 Division 1 33,501 H W 3 - 1 Gascoigne, Lineker (2)
15-Dec-90 Division 1 31,236 A L 1 - 2 Gascoigne
19-Oct-91 Division 1 30,502 H L 0 - 1
01-Feb-92 Division 1 30,123 A L 0 - 1
28-Oct-92 League Cup 3 18,399 A W 1 - 0 Samways
28-Nov-92 FA Prem 25,496 A W 1 - 0 Watson
07-Mar-93 F.A. Cup 6 34,050 A W 4 - 2 Nayim (3), Sedgley
24-Mar-93 FA Prem 27,247 H W 3 - 1 Anderton, Nayim, Turner
21-Aug-93 FA Prem 24,535 H W 1 - 0 Sedgley
11-Dec-93 FA Prem 21,566 A W 2 - 0 Dozzell (2)
22-Oct-94 FA Prem 25,473 A L 2 - 5 Dumitrescu (2, 1pen)
11-Apr-95 FA Prem 27,410 H W 2 - 1 Howells, Klinsmann
19-Aug-95 FA Prem 30,827 A D 1 - 1 Sheringham
13-Jan-96 FA Prem 31,438 H W 1 - 0 Armstrong
23-Sep-00 FA Prem 36,069 H D 0 - 0
10-Feb-01 FA Prem 34,399 A W 1 - 0 Rebrov
23-Dec-02 FA Prem 39,563 A W 3 - 2 Perry, Davies, Poyet
18-Apr-03 FA Prem 36,075 H L 0 - 2
28-Sep-03 FA Prem 46,842 A D 0 - 0
03-Dec-03 League Cup 4 31,727 H W 3 - 1 Anderton, Postiga, Kanoute
25-Jan-04 F.A. Cup 4 47,000 A D 1 - 1 Doherty
03-Feb-04 F.A. Cup 4 Replay 30,400 H L 3 - 4 King, Keane, Ziege
12-Apr-04 FA Prem 35,282 H D 1 - 1 Defoe
11-Dec-04 FA Prem 45,805 A W 1 - 0 Kanoute
19-Mar-05 FA Prem 35,681 H W 2 - 1 Defoe, Keane
04-Jan-06 FA Prem 40,808 A W 2 - 0 Mido, Keane
08-Apr-06 FA Prem 36,167 H W 2 - 1 Stalteri, Carrick
17-Dec-06 FA Prem 39,825 A W 2 - 1 Davenport, Huddlestone
13-May-07 FA Prem 35,426 H W 2 - 1 Keane, Berbatov
09-Dec-07 FA Prem 35,646 H W 2 - 1 Chimbonda, Defoe
15-Mar-08 FA Prem 40,188 A L 1 - 2 Keane
18-Dec-07 League Cup 5 38,564 A W 2 - 0 Defoe, Malbranque
09-Nov-08 FA Prem 41,853 A W 2 - 1 Bent (2)
16-May-09 FA Prem H



LAST TIME WE MET....

Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League, Sunday 9th November 2008

Darren Bent scored twice as 10-man Tottenham continued their good recent run against nine-man Manchester City.

Robinho fired the opener for the home side in the 15th minute before Gelson Fernandes was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Bent ran clear and slotted home to equalise for Spurs and then sidefooted his second on the hour.

City captain Richard Dunne was shown a straight red and Spurs' Benoit Assou-Ekotto was dismissed late on.

The result extends Tottenham's unbeaten run under Harry Redknapp to five matches and will be particularly sweet for the man himself - only six weeks ago his Portsmouth side were thumped 6-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium.

When the initial anger regarding the sendings off subsides, City manager Mark Hughes will be left to reflect on the fact that his side remain consistent only in their inconsistency.

Fuelled by their newfound confidence, Tottenham started the stronger and had the lions' share of possession, and they forged the game's first real chance through the sprightly Luka Modric, who curled a decent long-range effort just past Joe Hart's left-hand post.

However, in what was essentially Manchester City's first real attack and against the run of play, they opened the scoring.

Gomes could only parry a shot from Darius Vassell from the right side of the penalty area and Robinho was on hand to fire into the largely unguarded net.

The wind was taken out of the home side's sails, though, when Fernandes was sent off following a second yellow card.

He was first booked after 18 minutes for unsporting behaviour and then six minutes later was controversially shown red for an illegal challenge on David Bentley, whose dismissal changed the course of the match.

Shortly after, City defender Dunne completely missed an innocuous-looking long-ball forward and allowed Bent to race clear before calmly slotting the ball under the advancing Hart for his 10th of the season.

After the break Tottenham were able to funnel their numerical advantage into a domination of possession. However, real openings were rare and City, with the bit between their embittered teeth, punched above their reduced weight.

City's resilience was only brief, though, and Bent did grab his second of the game on 63 minutes. Jermaine Jenas held a long ball up and laid the ball off to the onrushing striker who expertly slotted his shot inside the far post.

As befitting a £32m player, Robinho continued to offer City hope and Gomes was forced to palm aside his 25-yard shot on 75 minutes.

City were reduced to nine men with 10 minutes to go when Dunne capped a horrible afternoon by dragging down Bent when the striker was through on goal.

Tottenham were themselves reduced to 10-men late on when Assou-Ekotto was shown a second yellow for a rash foul on Pablo Zabaleta.

City pushed hard for an equaliser but it was Tottenham who came closest to adding to the score when counter-attacking substitute Aaron Lennon found Bent in space, only for his shot to be saved.

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes:

"We started very brightly but losing Gelson made it very difficult for us.

"I'm not sure he's made any contact and the referee needs to take into consideration the conditions.

"I thought the players showed fantastic character and we really forced the issue and Spurs were hanging on at the end."

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp:

"It's been a fantastic couple of weeks for us.

"Today was a big game for us and I thought we started the game well and suddenly found ourselves 1-0 down but we got back in and started playing.

"It was a funny old day with the three sendings off."

Man City:

Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Fernandes, Vassell (Hamann 31), Robinho, Mwaruwari.

Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Elano, Jo, Evans, Ben-Haim.

Sent Off: Fernandes (26), Dunne (83).

Booked: Fernandes.

Goals: Robinho 16.

Tottenham:

Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Modric (Lennon 71), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, Campbell, Dawson, O'Hara.

Sent Off: Assou-Ekotto (89).

Booked: Zokora, King, Assou-Ekotto.

Goals: Bent 29, 64.

Att: 41,893

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match:

Tottenham's Darren Bent