Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview
Stoke played Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw at Britannia Stadium last week. The Potters currently sit in the number 11 place in the league table on 36 points, two behind Fulham.
Although a draw at home is not atypical of Stoke, they at least can boast a fairly good record in recent weeks of just one loss in their last 10 league matches. They also had three wins in that stretch.
In the reverse fixture against Tottenham the Potters carried the day with a 0-1 victory at White Hart Lane.
James Beattie and Salif Diao are both injured going into the match with Tottenham this weekend.
But Stoke’s main offensive weapon is available. Rory Delap,…he of the missile-like throw-ins.
Tottenham hold the coveted fourth spot in the table. That position gets you into the Champions League qualifying for next season. But it’s a dogfight between spurs and three other clubs. Namely Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Only three points separate all four teams and none of them can afford to lose at this stage of the season. A game at the Britannia, however, is no cakewalk.
Tottenham will lack the services of defender Ledley King due to a thigh injury. Carlo Cudicini, Jonathan Woodgate, Tom Huddleston and Aaron Lennon are all out. David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas may be available, however.
Jermain Defoe, with 17 goals to his credit, will be available too, and Stoke would do well to watch him carefully.