· This season's home Game - 1-1
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 38 2004-5
· Spurs drew 0-0 at home to Blackburn. West Ham were elsewhere!

Premier          Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home             11   5   3   3   13- 11  18
Away             10   3   2   5   12- 14  11
==============================================
Total (Prem)     21   8   5   8   25- 26  29
==============================================
Football League
Home (Div 1)     33  17   7   9   65- 51  47
Away (Div 1)     33   9   9  15   45- 54  29
==============================================
Total (Div 1)    66  26  16  24  110-105  76
==============================================
Football League
Home (Div 2)     10   4   4   2   18- 13  12
Away (Div 2)     10   3   3   4   13- 12   9
======================= ======================
Total (Div 2)    20   7   7   6   31- 25  21
==============================================
Total (Prem)     21   8   5   8   25- 26  29
Total (Div 1)    66  26  16  24  110-105  76
Total (Div 2)    20   7   7   6   31- 25  21
==============================================
Grand Total     107  41  28  38  166-156 126
==============================================

West Ham

West Ham   0-0  Charlton
Chelsea    4-1  West Ham
West Ham   1-0  Man City
M'brough   2-0  West Ham
West Ham   1-2  Liverpool
West Brom  0-1  West Ham

Spurs

Newcastle  3-1   Spurs
Spurs      2-1   Man City
Everton    0-1   Spurs
Spurs      1-2   Man Utd
Arsenal    1-1   Spurs
Spurs      1-0   Bolton

Pos          P  W  D  L  F -A   GD  Pts
4 Spurs     37 18 11  8  52-36  15  65
9 West Ham  37 15  7 15  50-54  -4  52

Following West Ham's FA Cup semi-final victory over Middlesbrough I sent the below comments to a West Ham unofficial site (KUMB):-

"This may come as a bit of a surprise to you, bearing in mind that some members of our fan bases treat each other with much hatred, but I do sincerely congratulate all connected with West Ham on their success today.

Yes it is a little irksome that you will be going to Europe even if you lose the Cup Final, whilst we have had to slave away all season for that reward, but in a week that you mourn John Lyall – the last manager to lead you to glory – it would be churlish not to wish you well. I recognise that this season, you also lost the great Ron Greenwood.

I have been on record this season in my match preview for the home game as commending Alan Pardew for maintaining the footballing traditions of your club, so once again, I say well done!

The thought that when we meet on May 7th you will field a weakened side has not of course entered my head! Enjoy the rest of your season – apart from that day, of course!"

I have received no reply to my sincere e-mail, and I suspect the Upton Park fan-base will be displaying all the anger in the world at us, whilst their management and any player with half a chance of appearing in the Cup Final will surely be focussing on that game.

Addendum:- Whilst it is was true to say I got no reply (until today - 06.05.06), my e-mail was subsequently published on the KUMB website

The team news for both sides is bad. Spurs will definitely miss Ledley King, Jermaine Jenas and Paul Stalteri. Former Hammer Michael Carrick, Robbie Keane, and Mido have late fitness tests. I suspect that Carrick and Keane will play, and with Stephen Kelly ready to step in for Stalteri, Spurs should be well-equipped to beat Alan Pardew's chosen line-up.

Matthew Etherington misses out and is already a doubt for Cardiff on May 13th. Hayden Mullins is suspended, and Dean Ashton is a big doubt with a hamstring problem that could also see him miss the Cup Final. The latest news being put about is that James Collins and even Anton Ferdinand may miss this Sunday's game. Are they genuine injury doubts, or is it a smokesceen set up by Pardew to provide a legitimate "We played our best side" quote to placate the moaners from the French quarter of London?

Whilst one should not under-estimate the task ahead of Spurs, who of course need to win to ensure fourth place (or match the gooners' result - that's a win then), I admit to feeling bullish about this game. West Ham will probably face the tigerish Teemu Tainio and Pitbull Edgar Davids in midfield, and one team will certainly NOT be shirking tackles!

There will be a lot of tension about - possibly more on the terraces than on the field, but I fancy Spurs to win quite convincingly by 3-1. With our UEFA Cup place assured, I would like to see us playing entertaining, relaxed and attacking football, and I think even our depleted side will secure a Champions' League slot.

Although I believe that Teddy Sheringham has signed a further one-year contract, could this game be a Premiership swan-song for him? Maybe he'll get the Hammers' consolation goal.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

COME ON BARCELONA!

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