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· Stoke 1 Spurs 2 - 21st August, 2010
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 15 2010-11
· See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
Full League Record v Stoke City
Premier Pl W D L F - A Pts
Home 3 2 0 1 6 - 4 6
Away 3 2 0 1 5 - 4 6
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Total (Prem) 6 4 0 2 11 - 8 12
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Football Lge
Home (Div One) 26 20 5 1 56 -19 49
Away (Div One) 26 7 8 11 26 -34 24
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Total(Div 1) 52 27 13 12 82 -53 73
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Football Lge
Home(Div Two) 7 6 1 0 18 - 7 13
Away(div Two) 7 2 1 4 9 -11 5
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Total(Div 2) 14 8 2 4 27 -18 18
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Total (Prem) 6 4 0 2 11 - 8 12
Total (Div1) 52 27 13 12 82 -53 73
Total (Div2) 14 8 2 4 27 -18 18
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Grand Total 72 39 15 18 120 -79 103
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Last Six Premiership results:-
Stoke
Arsenal 3-1 stoke
Stoke 1-3 Newcastle
Bolton 5-0 Stoke
Stoke 2-3 QPR
Stoke 3-1 Blackburn
Everton 0-1 Stoke
Spurs
Blackburn 1-2 Spurs
Spurs 3-1 QPR
Fulham 1-3 Spurs
Spurs 2-0 A. Villa
West Brom 1-3 Spurs
Spurs 3-0 Bolton
Pos P W D L F-A GD Pts
3 Spurs 13 10 1 2 29-16 13 31
8 Stoke 14 5 3 6 14-23 -9 18
May Spurs rule Britannia!
For once, both Spurs and Stoke play this week-end after enjoying a full week's rest from the rigours of either Europa League or Carling Cup football. In Spurs' case that burden was partly eased when defeated on penalties at The Britannia Stadium in the 3rd round game on 20th September (Stoke 0 (7) Spurs 0 (6) - 20th September 2010), and will most likely further eased when they drop out of the Europa League next week.
On the other hand, Tony Pulis decided to have a real crack at the Europa League. It is, after all the "Potters'" first crack at European football for 37 years. They've done well too, and have already qualified for the "Round of 32". They face a tough trip to Besiktas next week, but I am sure they'll be fielding their strongest available team for Sunday's game.
Since Stoke returned to the top tier (after an absence of 23 years), Spurs have never found it easy to beat them. Indeed, in our first Premier League meeting, I was in despair. (Stoke 2 Spurs 1 - October 19th 2008) This was Juande Ramos's last league game in charge of Spurs, who had Gareth Bale sent off in the 17th minute for a professional foul, conceding a penalty from which Higginbotham scored. Darren Bent got one back for us within 6 minutes, but Delap restored the lead for the home side in the second half. The game ended with Michael Dawson being sent off for a high tackle. Dawson had only come on as substitute with 13 minutes left, so the game brings him no happy memories.
It was the origin of the "Two points from 8 games" phrase. Wihin a week, Daniel Levy had sacked Ramos and appointed Harry Redknapp. I castigated Levy at the time for the club's transfer history, but once again he did make the right appointment at the right time as far as Harry Redknapp goes. I applauded Harry in last week's Premier League Review" (Harry Redknapp - best Spurs League manager since 19th Century!). Harry has won 61, drawn 29 and lost 29 of his 119 league games in charge, with a win percentage of 51%. We are in great form, looking for our seventh consecutive league win, and have more to play for in league terms since that last winning streak of six games in the 1989-90 season.
With both Manchester clubs "relegated" to the Europa League this week, and Spurs choosing to have no such distraction in the New Year, perhaps they really can look higher than the current third place, and not have to look over their shoulder at Chelsea and Arsenal, who have qualified for the Champions League knock-out phase.
It's never easy against Stoke though, and especially not at The Britannia Stadium, which will probably be cold and windswept this Sunday, with a hot and hostile home crowd baying for victory. That "Ex-Spurs" factor comes into play again, with Peter Crouch likely to play, and determined to put in a show against his last team for whom he did score two of our most memorable goals in the last 19 months. Those goals might not have been memorable so much for their quality, but certainly in terms of the achievment they gave. I refer to the goal that gave us Champions League football when beating Man City in May 2010, and the winner in the San Siro against AC Milan this February. Crouch has just three league goals to his name in 11 starts for Stoke, but as with Spurs, he is often in the mix with assists, or a penultimate touch before a goal.
Jonathan Woodgate has made 9 starts in the league for his new side, which is 6 more than he managed for Spurs in his last two seasons. He'll get a great reception from the travelling fans if selected. Wilson Palacios has been hampered by injury to some degree, but he did play 90 minutes for his new club on 1st December against Dynamo (Kiev). Wilson has only made two substitute appearances in league matches though.
The level of Stoke's commitment to the Europa League, together with extenuous travel, led to a poor run in the league where they lost 6 out of 8 games, including a disastrous 5-0 at Bolton. That situation has been righted with two wins in their last two games at home to Blackburn, and a narrow win at Goodison Park.
Spurs have won their last three league games against Stoke, two of which were at The Britannia. All three wins were by the odd goal. Last year Gareth Bale starred with both our goals, the second of which was one of our goals of the season. (Stoke 1 Spurs 2 - 21st August, 2010) Peter Crouch scored two of our three goals in our 3-2 home win in April, within days of getting sent off at The Bernabeu. (Spurs 3 Stoke 2 - 9th April 2011)
So, we know it's going to be tough. It will be physical as well. We know that Spurs have the quality, style and the pace to overcome most opponents at this time, but everyone has an off day now and again. This game is our biggest test for a while. Rafa van der Vaart should start this one, but our success may well depend upon the fitness and presence of Ledley King at the back. It's too early for team news, but I'm taking Spurs to win, perhaps again by the odd goal. May Spurs rule The Britannia!
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