Newcastle United v Tottenham: Preview, Team News and More…

Emmanuel Adebayor [Photo: Alan Hill]Tottenham’s pursuit of a top-4 finish continues against Newcastle United at St James’ Park. The home side’s form has slipped in recent weeks but they always raise their game when playing Spurs.

Latest Up-date:

Team: Lloris; Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Naughton; Dembele, Bentaleb, Capoue, Paulinho, Lennon; Adebayor  Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Chadli, Eriksen, Townsend, Kane, Soldado.

Newcastle are currently in 8th position in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of Tottenham. Through November and December, Newcastle had a ‘purple patch’ when they won 7 out of nine league games and suffered only one defeat, 3 – 0 at Swansea. In that run they defeated Chelsea at home and won at White Hart Lane and Old Trafford. During that sequence of results Newcastle climbed to 5th place at the end of November. Since recording a 5 – 1 home win over Stoke City on Boxing Day, Newcastle have won only one other game – a 3 – 1 success at West Ham. They have taken only 4 points from their last 7 games and have conceded 3 goals in both of their most recent games, which included the home defeat to their greatest rivals, Sunderland.

The embarrassing defeat to Sunderland in their last home match is sure to be a motivation for Newcastle as they look to put in an improved performance against Spurs.

Earlier in the Season:

Newcastle won 1 – 0 at White Hart Lane. Loic Remy scored an early goal and for all Tottenham’s efforts they could not find a way past Tim Krul who had an outstanding game in the visitors’ goal.

Tottenham’s League Record at Newcastle (inc.PL)

P  68  W  21  D  19  L  28  For  96  Ag  119

Record In Premier League at St. James’ Park

P  19  W  3  D  5  L  11  For  20  Ag  39

Last Season

The match at St. James’ Park on the opening day of the 2012-13 season was the venue for Andre Villas-Boas’ first match as Tottenham manager. It ended in disappointment as Newcastle took all three points with a late penalty after Jermain Defoe had equalised in the 77th minute. Newcastle had gone ahead early in the second half.

Newcastle

Injuries have hit Newcastle badly in recent weeks and the departure of Cabaye to PSG has been a huge loss to Alan Pardew’s team. They have concerns over the fitness of Fabricio Coloccini, Mathieu Debuchy, Cheick Tiote, Gabriel Obertan, Gael Bigirimana, Yoan Gouffran and Papiss Cisse. Their leading goal scorer, Remy, is suspended having been sent off against Norwich and has served two of his three match ban. Gouffran has scored 7 goals in all competitions with Ben Arfa next on their goalscoring list with 3.

Newcastle have won 5 of their home games, drawn 3 and lost 4. They have defeated Fulham (1 – 0), Chelsea (2 – 0), Norwich and WBA (both 2 – 1) and Stoke. They drew with West Ham on the opening day of the season (0 – 0), Liverpool (2 – 2) and Southampton (1 – 1). They suffered an early home defeat to Hull (2 – 3) and since the win over Stoke have lost their last four home games – Arsenal (0 – 1), Cardiff (1 – 2) in the FA Cup, Manchester City (0 – 2) and Sunderland.

Tottenham

Tim Sherwood has only three players missing through injury – Sandro, Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches who could be out for six weeks with a back injury. The team will probably show few changes from the side which took the three points against Everton. Most interest will probably surround whether Nabil Bentaleb will continue in midfield ahead of more experienced players. Readers of HotspurHQ thought he shouldn’t start but with the coach’s confidence in the young player he could well be included in the team once again.

Sherwood spoke about the team starting slowly and of trying to improve on that. It will be essential against Newcastle who have frequently caught Spurs out at St James’ Park with their quick starts bringing them some early goals.

Andros Townsend returned to the team for the first time since mid-December as a second half substitute against Everton so may be considered for a starting position.

As Spurs continue in their pursuit of a top-4 finish, this is a match that Tottenham would class as being one they could and should win if they are to have any hope of achieving their season’s goal. It would appear to be a good time to be playing Newcastle with their recent record and absentees through injury. We thought that against Hull in the last away game but they took us by surprise with their confidence and endeavour so Spurs need to be wary of falling into the same trap once again. Having suffered a home defeat to Newcastle, it should provide the players with the motivation to exact revenge for that unexpected defeat as they look to record their first Premier League win at St James’ Park since Atoube’s goal in August, 2004.