Tottenham Gain Clarity on Two Games-in-Hand, Get a New One

The unpredictable nature of the Premier League this season has meant that a lot of teams have games-in-hand. While Wolverhampton Wanderers have already played 25 matches – most in the league – Aston Villa has only played 22 – least in the league.. While most- 15 of the 20 teams – have played 24 games there is Tottenham an outlier as usual, with a couple games in hand having played 23. On Friday afternoon Tottenham got a little clarity on their schedule, while some new questions now persist.

Tottenham is Missing Some Games

Tottenham already had a Covid-inflicted game in hand from earlier in the season against Aston Villa from earlier in January. Add on top of that the April 24 match against Fulham that now conflicts with Spurs date with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Tottenham had for sure two matches to reschedule.

Falling out of the FA Cup maybe helps from a scheduling perspective

Maybe there is a silver lining in Tottenham Hotspur being knocked out of the FA Cup, which is the opportunity to make up a few matches. Sure Southampton advanced meaning Spurs March 20 match against the Saints will have to be rescheduled. However, with Tottenham not in the FA Cup that weekend, they can make-up a game.

Had Spurs beaten Everton, they would have had an FA Cup Quarterfinal match that weekend and been strapped with yet another match to make-up. Instead, Spurs and the FA can be creative with that weekend using it to the advantage of fixing the schedule.

Tottenham got some clarification for make-up games

On Friday, it was announced that the previously known make-up games have been rescheduled for Tottenham. Since Spurs now have that weekend of March 20th off, they have been scheduled to play Aston Villa on the evening of Sunday March 21.

Additionally, Tottenham have had their April match with Fulham moved up considerably, with the two sides now scheduled to meet in a few weeks on Thursday March 4. That Thursday match means Spurs weekend game versus Crystal Palace has moved to Sunday, as did the following weekend match against Arsenal.

All-told Tottenham went from three matches originally scheduled in March, to four, but did do some changing of opponents. Spurs will still have to find time to make-up the Southampton game down the road, but one game to make-up compared to three does not seem too bad. Ultimately, it will be how far Tottenham does or does not advance in Europa League that will most impact the scheduling of that Southampton match in due course.