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Prem         Pl   W   D   L    For-Ag  Pts
Home         15   8   1   6    23 -22  25
Away         15   3   3   9    15 -32  12
==========================================
Total(Prem)  30  11   4  15    38 -54  37
==========================================
Lge Div 1
Home         43  24   7  12    87 -48  59
Away         43  15  14  14    70 -76  45
==========================================
Total(Div 1) 86  39  21  26   157 -124 109
==========================================
Lge Div 2
Home          6   1   3   2     6 - 7   5
Away          6   3   0   3     6 - 4   6
==========================================
Total(Div 2) 12   4   3   5    12 -11  11
==========================================
Total(Prem)  30  11   4  15    38 -54  37
Total(Div 1) 86  39  21  26   157 -124 109
Total(Div 2) 12   4   3   5    12 -11  11
==========================================
Grand Total 128  54  28  46   207 -189 157
==========================================

Last Six Premiership results:-

Newcastle

Fulham     2-1   Newcastle
Newcastle  2-2   Wigan
Chelsea    0-0   Newcastle
M'brough   0-0   Newcastle
Newcastle  2-2   Stoke
P'tsmouth  0-3   Newcastle

Spurs

Man City   1-2   Spurs
Fulham     2-1   Spurs
Spurs      1-0   Blackburn
Spurs      0-1   Everton
West Ham   0-2   Spurs
Spurs      0-0   Man Utd

Pos           P  W  D  L   F-A  GD  Pts
14 Newcastle 17  4  7  6  22-24 -2  19
15 Spurs     17  5  4  8  19-21 -2  19  

Big spenders meet at Christmas

When Spurs beat Newcastle 2-1 in September in the Carling Cup 3rd Round, both teams were in the relegation mire, and battling with each other for the back page headlines. The Toon were looking for a manager and Chris Hughton was looking after team affairs after Keegan's walk-out, and, as now, they were also looking for a new owner. The media loved gloating over Spurs' paltry league points tally, with Juande Ramos at the helm of a squad upon which so much money had been spent.

Outside of the "Top Four Cartel", Spurs and Newcastle must be the biggest spenders in the transfer market in recent years, so it is no wonder that they get the media and the fans on their backs when things are not going so well. At least Spurs can boast of another trophy won this year, whereas the onset of 2009 will herald the 40th anniversary of Newcastle managing to win some meaningful silverware. That was the "by invitation" Inter- Cities Fairs Cup, which Newcastle won by beating a team called Ujpestdosza from Hungary 6-1. This was a competition in whih only one team from any particular city was invited to take part. Although Spurs used to finish above Newcastle throughout the sixties, they were not necessarily invited to take part - or of course they were participating in one of the blue riband European tournaments because of trophy success.

Now Joe Kinnear has got a contract to manage Newcastle until the end of the season, having made a reasonable success of his spell as caretaker. The Magpies have been unbeaten in five home league games under Joe's leadership, and have lost just two games (at Sunderland and Fulham) in that time. We are level on points, having both had decent spells, but of course we are both looking over our shoulders with the third relegation place only one point behind us. The winners of this game could aspire to the top half from here on.

Newcastle have had the upper hand over us in the last five league games. Last year's game at St. James' Park finished 3-1 to the hosts. Gareth Bale was injured early on, and Obafemi Martins gave Newcastle the big pyschological boost of a goal as half-time approached. Cacapa scored from a free header after 50 minutes, before Robbie Keane put us back on terms from a tap-in. Milner was allowed to make it 3-1, when he got the ball back from a mis-kick, before planting a good shot past Radek Cerny in the Spurs goal.

The return game in March was a major embarrassment for Spurs, who caved in after Darren Bent had given us a 25th minute lead, before Butt, Geremi, Owen, and Martins made it a rout of 4-1. There is league revenge to be had!

Both Martins and Owen played in last week's surprising 3-0 win at Fratton Park. Martins is struggling with a groin strain, but may yet pass a fitness test to face Spurs, who have plenty of their own injury worries.

Apart from the longer term injury to Alan Hutton, Giovani Dos Santos is still at least a week away from fitness, as is Jermaine Jenas. There are the usual concerns about Ledley King, but I suspect he will play this one, but Jonathan Woodgate may not be ready yet after his back strain against Man Utd. Luke Modric suffered a hamstring twinge on Thursday night, and Aaron Lennon may also not be able to play due to a groin strain.

The key to Spurs achieving something in this game will be the presence of our best available back four, who have kept a clean sheet in 4 of the last 7 games. The potential absence of Lennon and Modric is a worry though, as they are the ones most likely to prise openings for the front runner. We may have to settle for a draw at best.

Stop Press!

Jonathan Woodgate will not be fit to play in tomorrow's game. Neither he nor Jermaine Jenas made the squad, which will disappoint them on more thaan one front, bearing in mind they both played for Newcastle in the past. Better news though comes in the shape of the fact that Ledley King, Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon have all travelled to St' James' Park.

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