Kingston Communications Stadium, Hull
Wednesday 19th August 2009, Kick Off 20:00
Premier League, Match 2
COMMENT:
Tottenham Hotspur travel to Hull City for their first away Premier League fixture of 2009-10 fresh from an impressive 2-1 win over Liverpool while Hull suffered an opening day 2-1 loss at Chelsea. Both teams met recently in the Barclays Asia Trophy Final, which Spurs won 3-0 with a brace from Robbie Keane and one from Aaron Lennon. The corresponding League fixture last season also resulted in a 2-1 Spurs win with Lennon & Woodgate grabbing the goals.
The two teams had very contrasting starts to last season, with Hull City riding high while Spurs were rock bottom. Eventually, Spurs recovered under Harry Redknapp to finish in 8th place while it was touch and go for Hull's Premier League survival right up until the last game of the season.
Spurs should be favorites for the win on Wednesday night and if they do manage to grab all three points, it will be the first time since season 2005-06 that they will have a 100% record after the opening two matches. Season 1994-95 was the only other time that Spurs had 6 out of 6 points in the Premier League.
Ledley King is very doubtful to start, so Sebastien Bassong will probably be partnered in central defence with Vedran Corluka with either Alan Hutton or Kyle Naughton as right back.
Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson remain injured and Jermain Jenas is still doubtful, meaning Tom Huddlestone will probably partner Wilson Palacios in central midfield.
Any two from Spurs four strikers could start, but I fancy Harry to give the nod to Peter Crouch with Robbie Keane as his initial partner.
SPURS TEAM NEWS:
Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Ledley King will miss Wednesday night's trip to Hull in the Barclays Premier League.
The central defender's continued knee problems means he cannot play three games a week but he will come back into contention for Sunday's derby at West Ham.
Otherwise, it's a case of 'as you were' for Harry as he prepares for the trip to Humberside.
Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Michael Dawson (Achilles) are both out although Woody is already running again.
Meanwhile, midfielder Jermaine Jenas (calf) is still doubtful after missing the opener against Liverpool.
MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):
Hull know that against a side like Tottenham, who will be aiming for the top six, a point would be a good result.
They were a bit unlucky to concede so late against Chelsea and they troubled them when they were allowed to.
Tottenham struggled away from home last season, I expect that to improve with Sebastien Bassong looking good on his debut and I think they can come away with a point.
Verdict: Hull City 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur
PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
12-Jan-1907 F.A. Cup 1 27,033 H D 0 - 0
17-Jan-07 F.A. Cup 1 Replay 18,000 A D 0 - 0 (Abandoned after 10 mins of Extra time, result stood)
21-Jan-07 F.A. Cup 1 2nd Replay 20,000 H W 1 - 0 Chapman
26-Sep-08 Division 2 12,000 A L 0 - 1
30-Jan-09 Division 2 21,000 H D 0 - 0
12-May-12 Tour - N L 0 - 2 (Match played in Brussels, Belgium)
25-Dec-19 Division 2 40,008 H W 4 - 0 Grimsdell (pen), Cantrell, Bliss (2)
26-Dec-19 Division 2 28,000 A W 3 - 1 Cantrell, Dimmock, Bell og
27-Mar-26 Friendly - A L 0 - 5
06-Oct-28 Division 2 28,737 H W 4 - 1 Scott, Osborne, Elkes (2)
15-Apr-29 Division 2 4,139 A D 1 - 1 Harper
21-Dec-29 Division 2 9,103 H D 2 - 2 Harper (2)
26-Apr-30 Division 2 6,396 A L 0 - 2
02-Sep-35 Division 2 25,603 H W 3 - 1 McCormick, Howe, Hunt DA
09-Sep-35 Division 2 9,616 A L 0 - 1
07-Apr-50 Division 2 66,889 H D 0 - 0
10-Apr-50 Division 2 38,345 A L 0 - 1
20-Feb-54 F.A. Cup 5 46,839 A D 1 - 1 Bennett
24-Feb-54 F.A. Cup 5 Replay 52,934 H W 2 - 0 Walters, Baily
04-Oct-77 Division 2 10,966 A L 0 - 2
26-Mar-78 Division 2 36,913 H W 1 - 0 Perryman
24-Jan-81 F.A. Cup 4 37,532 H W 2 - 0 Archibald, Brooke
15-Apr-88 Friendly - A L 1 - 2 Walsh
08-May-92 Friendly 9,994 A W 6 - 2 Barmby (2), Hendry (2), Turner, Samways
24-Jly-2004 Friendly 13,316 A D 2 - 2 Defoe (2)
05-Oct-08 FA Prem 36,062 H L 0 - 1
21-Feb-09 FA Prem 24,742 A W 2 - 1 Lennon, Woodgate
31-Jly-09 Asia Trophy Final N W 3 - 0 Keane (2, 1p), Lennon (Match played in Beijing, China)
19-Aug-09 FA Prem A
16-Jan-10 FA Prem H
LAST TIME WE MET...
Monday, 23 February 2009
Hull City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Jonathan Woodgate's 86th-minute header lifted Tottenham to 14th with a valuable victory at the KC Stadium.
They went ahead with a superb 20-yard effort from Aaron Lennon, who found space following a short corner.
But Hull looked dangerous in an entertaining first half and Michael Turner slid in to equalise after Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini fumbled a corner.
Both sides hit the woodwork but when a draw looked certain, Woodgate rose to head in Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross.
A year ago, Woodgate headed the winner at Wembley as Spurs lifted the Carling Cup.
In his 50th appearance for the club, he scored a goal that while not quite as crucial, could be hugely important in their battle for survival.
Five years ago this weekend Hull were losing at home to Torquay in the fourth tier of the English leagues, but having been in the top half of the table for much of their debut season in the Premier League, they are now embroiled in a multi-team relegation scrap.
The warning signs were evident for Spurs in the opening moments when Andy Dawson's inswinging corner from the right caused anxiety in the six-yard box, and set pieces remained a constant problem for the visitors.
Dawson found himself in the book within the opening seven minutes for two crude challenges on the pacy Lennon, but though Hull looked the more dangerous it was Spurs who took the lead with the first moment of genuine quality.
Ironically it stemmed from a set play, as Luka Modric worked a short corner with Robbie Keane and found Lennon on the edge of the area.
The diminutive winger had time to line up a shot, but his curling effort into the narrow gap available to the left-hand corner was exquisite.
Hull came right back, however, and Cudicini had to be alert to rush out and block with his legs to deny the charging Kamil Zayatte.
But the Italian goalkeeper flapped badly at another inswinging corner from the right, and after the ball ricocheted off Wilson Palacios, Turner slid in ahead of Ledley King to apply the finishing touch.
Spurs looked the more comfortable in possession but Hull were the more purposeful, with Daniel Cousin's volley dipping just over and an unmarked Sam Ricketts glancing a header wide.
Harry Redknapp had looked increasingly agitated by his team's failings and they would no doubt have felt the force of his frustrations as they emerged with more intent after the break.
Keane broke down the left and crossed for Palacios to hit a fierce volley heading straight for the corner, only for former Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner to block with his head.
A Modric free-kick was headed against the top of the bar by his compatriot Vedran Corluka but much of the second half lacked fluency.
It was not until midway through it that Hull tested the Spurs goal, Zayatte breaking free to glance another inswinging corner from the right against the outside of the post.
Woodgate's superb leap settled it, he had to leave the field shortly before the end with blood streaming from above his eye, but that endeavour helped to end a run of four away defeats and gave Spurs a key win.
For Hull it was a 10th league match without a victory and only four points separate them from 17th-placed Stoke.
Hull manager Phil Brown:
"I'm not worried about relegation. That's the wrong word. It's always been in the back of our minds.
"We can't lose games like that. We've got to learn the little details we need to pick up on.
"But I believe we have enough ability and character in the camp to get through this poor spell."
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp:
"We've got to play Monday and Thursday and we've got a cup final on Sunday. It's ludicrous.
"It showed why I rested players. People should understand that is why I do my job and that is why they do their job.
"They made it difficult in the first half, they worked their socks off and were always a big threat at set plays.
"But in the second half we created the better chances and were the better team and it's a terrific result for us."
Hull:
Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Gardner, Dawson, Marney, Ashbee, Zayatte (Geovanni 87), Kilbane, Garcia (Manucho 79), Cousin (Mendy 67).
Subs Not Used: Myhill, Doyle, Barmby, Halmosi.
Booked: Dawson, Ashbee.
Goal: Turner 27.
Tottenham:
Cudicini, Corluka, Woodgate (Dawson 89), King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Zokora 87), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Keane, Bent (Pavlyuchenko 72).
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Bentley, Huddlestone, Chimbonda.
Booked: Modric.
Goals: Lennon 17, Woodgate 86.
Att: 24,742
Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).
BBC Sport Player Rater men of the match: Tottenham's Aaron Lennon and Hull's Michael Turner
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