Tottenham’s 2013-14 Fixtures Month by Month
By Logan Holmes
Tottenham’s fixtures for the 2013-14 season have presented them with the challenge of two away London derbies in the opening three matches of the season. It is a tricky opening with Swansea as the visitors to White Hart Lane on the second weekend. A month by month look at the coming season.
Tottenham start the season on Saturday, 17th August with a London derby for the first time since 1999 when they were defeated at Upton Park. It will be the first occasion that they have met promoted Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season. A week later they entertain Swansea at White Hart Lane and will be hoping to repeat last season’s success when they completed the double over the team from Wales. The final match before the international break is the north London derby and Spurs will be hoping to improve on their last two appearances at the Emirates.
September:
After the internationals Spurs face Norwich on 14th September. Chris Hughton’s team have proved difficult opponents in the past two seasons taking four points from the two games. Spurs then travel to Cardiff a week later to take on last season’s winners of the Championship. They finish the month with a visit from Chelsea. Spurs will also have a Capital One Cup tie and their first Europa League group match to play in a busy month which includes important World Cup qualifying games.
October:
The month starts with the second Europa League match and is followed by a home match against West Ham United, scheduled for 5th October but will be moved because of the Europa League match. The international break is followed by a match at Aston Villa and the home game against the third of the promoted sides, Hull City.
November:
Spurs visit Goodison Park on 2nd November and have Newcastle United at White Hart Lane the following weekend. The final two games of the month are against the two Manchester clubs. Tottenham play at City and then entertain the Premier League champions on the last weekend of the month.
December
A very busy period with six Premier League games starts at Craven Cottage on Wednesday, 4th with a trip to Sunderland the following Saturday. A week later Liverpool come to London ahead of the four match holiday schedule. The weekend before Christmas Spurs travel to Southampton and then have two home games against West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day and Stoke City the following Saturday.
January:
The New Year’s Day match takes Tottenham to Old Trafford for the first of the return fixtures. An incredible start to 2014. The FA Cup, takes over the next weekend before Crystal Palace come to White Hart Lane. Spurs travel to Swansea the following weekend and entertain Manchester City in a midweek game at the end of the month.
February:
On the first of the month Spurs travel to Hull before entertaining Everton the next weekend. They then travel to Newcastle for a midweek game ahead of a possible FA Cup 5th Round tie. The last match of the month is at Norwich.
March:
On 1st March Cardiff City are the visitors to White Hart Lane before Spurs travel to Stamford Bridge for the derby with Chelsea. A week later Arsenal come to White Hart Lane and Southampton are the visitors a week later. Tottenham then travel to play Liverpool for the final match of the month.
April:
Sunderland are the visitors to Tottenham on 5th April before Spurs travel to West Brom. Fulham provide the opposition for the penultimate home match of the season before two successive away games – with Stoke being the opponents in the last match in April.
May:
Spurs end the season with two games in London, at Upton Park on 3rd May and at home to Aston Villa on the final Sunday of the season – 11th May.
The FA Cup Final returns to its rightful place as the climax to the season the following weekend.
Thoughts on the List
Next season has its difficult periods with matches against thtowel Manchester clubs in late November and the Chelsea and Arsenal games on successive weekends in March. They have a strictly start to the season with a number of games in the opening weeks which could prove teething. The three matches in August, especially the north London derby, might encourage Daniel Levy to complete the transfer negotiations for the start of the season to have the strongest possible team for the visit to the Emirates.