Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City – Preview – Premier League

The third weekend of the Premier League season provides Tottenham with another home match and an opportunity to get their first win under Andre Villas-Boas ahead of the fortnight break for international matches. Norwich are also looking for their first league win under their new manager, Chris Hughton, although they opened their account with a 2 – 1 at Carrow Road win over Scunthorpe United in the Capital One Cup in mid-week. With a weakened side, it took a penalty from Wes Hoolahan early in the second half to secure victory against the bottom team in League One.

Norwich will not prove an easy test for Tottenham who will know not to take the visitors for granted after the Carrow Road side’s victory at White Hart Lane last April. The side from East Anglia deserved that win and the 2 – 1 scoreline did not flatter them. Norwich took an early first half lead through Pilkington but Jermain Defoe equalised before the interval. Midway through the second half Elliott Bennett scored the winner with a great strike, giving Brad Friedel no chance.

Chris Hughton will be eager to record a win at White Hart Lane where he spent so many years as a player, coach, Assistant manager and Caretaker manager until his sacking along with Martin Jol in October, 2007. A greatly respected player at Tottenham he was a member of the successful side of the 1980s. He has always conducted himself with great dignity, no more so than when removed from the manager’s post at Newcastle United after winning them promotion at a time when the club was a very low ebb. He was appointed manger at Norwich City in the summer after Paul Lambert left to take over at Aston Villa.

Norwich City

Hughton’s first Premier League match in charge didn’t give the start he would have wished for when he met his old friend, Martin Jol, losing 5 – 0 to Fulham at Craven Cottage. He then turned to Tottenham to sign central defender, Sebastien Bassong, to strengthen his defence. It obviously worked as Norwich drew 1 – 1 in last week’s home game against Queen’s Park Rangers who had also conceded five goals on the opening Saturday. Simeon Jackson scored the early goal but Rangers levelled when John Ruddy saved Cisse’s penalty only for Bobby Zamora to score from the rebound. Norwich’s other new signings during the summer have included Robert Snodgrass from Leeds United and central defender Javier Garrido on loan from Lazio. He made his Norwich debut with Bassong last weekend. Norwich have managed to retain the services of their main striker, Grant Holt who caused Spurs so many problems in last season’s match. They signed goalkeeper, Mark Bunn, from Blackburn Rovers as cover and competition for Ruddy who made his England debut this month against Italy, after having to withdraw from the Euro 2012 squad through injury. He had a very impressive season in the Premier League last year and was voted the club’s ‘Player of the Season’.

Last season, Norwich who had won two successive promotions, were a surprise team in the Premier League taking 20 away points as they won 5 and drew 5 of their away games.

Tottenham Hotspur

Questions which have to be answered concerning the Spurs’ team are will – Mousa Dembele start and who will he replace and who will play up front? It would seem likely that Dembele who joined from Fulham during the week will make his debut in midfield. He has had a full pre-season’s preparation and was outstanding at Old Trafford last weekend. Who will lose their place? It could probably be Rafael Van der Vaart who may well have been transferred to Hamburg in the frantic activity of the final day of the transfer window. Defoe has started in the opening two matches and signed a new contract on Thursday but Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to be given his place for this game.

In central defence, the four month absence of Younes Kaboul will see Jan Vertonghen having a further opportunity to adjust to Premier League football. He will be a great asset to the Spurs defence through the season but just needs time to develop an understanding with his central defensive partner, William Gallas, and become accustomed to Tottenham’s plans and strategies.

Andre Villas-Boas needs a win from this match – it is always better to go into the international break on the back of a victory and he also wants to dampen any media talk or spectators’ anxieties which would arise if Tottenham were to start the season with three games, without a win. Tottenham have played quite well in the opening two matches but haven’t taken the chances created and then suffered with defensive lapses at Newcastle and a late equaliser last weekend. It’s an old managerial adage, ‘Keep the home fans happy and the manager’s job is much easier.’ A win tomorrow would help Villas-Boas greatly.