· This season's match at White Hart Lane - 1-0 to Bolton
· Last Year's Game - 1-0 to Bolton
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 34 2002-3
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 5 3 1 1 9 - 6 10
Away 4 1 2 1 5 - 5 5
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Total(Prem) 9 4 3 2 14 -11 15
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 29 17 5 7 57 - 31 39
Away (Div 1) 29 9 3 17 38 - 52 21
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Total(Div 1) 58 26 8 24 95 - 83 60
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 2 2 0 0 3 - 1 4
Away (Div 2) 2 1 0 1 1 - 1 2
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Total(Div 2) 4 3 0 1 4 - 2 6
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Total(Prem) 9 4 3 2 14 -11 15
Total(Div 1) 58 26 8 24 95 - 83 60
Total(Div 2) 4 3 0 1 4 - 2 6
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Grand Total 71 33 11 27 113 - 96 81
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Last Six Premiership results:-
Bolton
Bolton 0-2 Chelsea
Arsenal 2-1 Bolton
Bolton 1-0 Newcastle
M'brough 2-0 Bolton
Bolton 2-2 A. Villa
Wolves 1-2 Bolton
Spurs
Spurs 1-0 Newcastle
Man Utd 3-0 Spurs
S'hampton 1-0 Spurs
Spurs 0-1 Chelsea
Everton 3-1 Spurs
Spurs 1-1 Man City
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
12 Bolton 33 10 11 12 38-51 -13 41
14 Spurs 33 11 5 17 42-52 -10 38
Our match at White Hart Lane against Bolton in November was the first defeat under David Pleat's current tenure. It came after a run of 6 games undefeated, which included 4 clean sheets. Some people were moaning about the quality of the football during that spell, but what we would have given for a run like that now. Indeed, two or three clean sheets in our last 5 games would be a blessing.
Last year's game at The Reebock was televised and won by Bolton in the very last minute, thanks to a suicidal challenge by Gary Doherty on Djorkaeff. Jay-Jay Okocha converted the penalty, and he is the man who had such a brilliant game against us at White Hart Lane, although he has not scored a league goal this season. Bolton have beaten us only twice in the Premiership, and that was the last 2 games. Okocha has been nominated amongst others for the Player of the Year award, but we know where that will be going, don't we? I'll give you a clue - he will be at The Lane next week, and Spurs fans cannot possibly win Fantasy Football competitions as they have to leave certain players out, don't they?
Anyway, back to the point, and there is only one statistic that means anything to Spurs fans this week. That is the need for 3 more points to virtually guarantee safety from relegation, although there are those who feel we have enough points already. I am not in that school of thought, and I hope and pray we can do it this week.
Bolton were having such a great season till their Carling Cup defeat against Middlesbrough, but they have lost 5 of their last 8 games, beating only Newcastle at home, and Wolves last week at Molineaux. Whilst they already have 41 points, you can bet your bottom dollar that Sam Allardyce will have his boys motivated to give Spurs a hard time. After all, mathematically, there are not safe yet, although the "R" word has unusally not been a part of the Bolton vocabulary since the early part of the season.
David Pleat has the usual task of cobbling together a side with a number of injury issues that will not be resolved till the day of the race. One thing is certain, Stephen Carr will be missing through suspension, and Pleat has been quoted as considering 17 year old Philip Ifil. Rest assured, dear reader, that Ifil would not let the side down if selected. He is a real talent, but it would be a hell of a match to give him such an introduction, wouldn't it? I fancy that Taricco will be fit, and Kelly will play at right back. Robbie Keane must surely start this one, as part of a three-pronged attack, and we must hope that Ledley King can return to provide some stability either in the middle or at the back.
Ever the optimist that I am, I am going to stick my neck out for Spurs to turn it on, and win 3-1. Crazy, aren't I?
