Tottenham v Stoke

Last updated : 08 April 2011 By BBC Sport

Stoke have been rocked by the news that defender Danny Higginbotham is set to be out for up to six months with a ruptured cruciate knee ligament.

John Carew is expected to be fit and Jermaine Pennant should be available despite picking up a knock in training.

 

Tottenham

Doubtful: Gallas & Palacios (both knee), Lennon (illness)

Injured: Hutton (knee), Kaboul & Woodgate (both calf), King & Pienaar (both groin)

Stoke

Doubtful: Carew (back)

Injured: Higginbotham (knee), Sidibe (Achilles)

 

 

MATCH PREVIEW

With Tottenham's Champions League dream lying in tatters following their mauling at the hands of Real Madrid, manager Harry Redknapp must get a response out of his team as defeat to Stoke could see his side's chances of playing in Europe's premier club competition again next season look very bleak indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harry will be absolutely devastated because he would have been going there hoping to get close and bring them back to White Hart Lane with a chance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stoke boss Tony Pulis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have lost significant ground in the race for fourth place after a string of disappointing draws against teams near the foot of the table. Central to this barren run has been the indifferent form of Rafael van der Vaart, and Gareth Bale's injury problems.

These two looked destined to be in the running for the Footballer of the Year award at the turn of the year, but they have dramatically slipped off the radar. Tottenham have scored just 15 goals in their 16 games of 2011 and with the previously unstoppable van der Vaart and Bale contributing just three goals between them in that period, Spurs have stagnated.

So Stoke will fancy their chances of recording their second successive victory at White Hart Lane following a shock 1-0 win last season. They need the points, given that they are just six points above the drop zone despite sitting in the lofty climbs of 11th place.

It will be the Potters' second trip to north London this week after manager Tony Pulis revealed that he took his squad down to Wembley so his players could familiarise themselves with the stadium ahead of their massive FA Cup semi-final with Bolton next Sunday.

 

 

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• This the clubs' sixth meeting in the Premier League. Tottenham have three wins to Stoke's two.

• Stoke won at White Hart Lane last season for the first time since 1975.

• The club's have met 78 times. Tottenham have won 39 times, Stoke 22 and there have been 17 draws.

Tottenham

• Tottenham have recouped 21 points from losing positions this season, which is more than any other top-flight side.

• Harry Redknapp's team have lost just one of their last nine league games, but have drawn their last three.

• Spurs have lost just one of their last 25 league matches at White Hart Lane.

• Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has scored 99 Premier league goals.

Stoke

• The Potters have lost their last six away league games but are unbeaten at home in 2011.

• They have failed to score in five of their last nine league outings.

• In 14 Premier League matches in London the Potters have never drawn a match, winning three and losing 11.

• Stoke have scored a higher percentage of second-half goals than any other team (76%).

 

 

LEADING GOALSCORERS

 

Tottenham

Van der Vaart: 12 goals (10 league); Bale & Pavlyuchenko: 11 goals (7 league)

 

Stoke

Walters: 9 goals (5 league); Huth: 8 goals (6 league)

 

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Patrick Keane

Fourth official: Phil Crossley

 

 

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Tottenham (D0-0 v Wigan, a): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart (Lennon 68), Sandro, Jenas, Modric (Kranjcar 85), Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Crouch 57). Subs not used: Cudicini, Huddlestone, Rose, Pienaar.

Stoke (D1-1 v Chelsea, h): Begovic; Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham (Collins 90), Pennant (Fuller 90), Delap, Whelan (Whitehead 85), Etherington, Jones, Walters. Subs not used: Nash, Pugh, Diao, Wilkinson.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport