Posted on 23 Apr 2010 at 17:22 PM by
Formex
Tottenham
have done much to upset the title hopes of Arsenal and Chelsea
in the last ten days and their London
rivals will be hoping they can repeat the feat when they face Man United at Old
Trafford in Saturday’s early game.
Redknapp’s
men were outstanding in putting the Gunners to the sword at White Hart Lane and to follow up with a
comfortable 2-1 success over the leaders Chelsea last Saturday, which in no
flattered them, shows just how far the Lilywhites have come this season. A
similar performance against the Champions should cement their fourth spot in
the league and Champions League football for next season.
United go
into the game on the back of a last minute victory over Man City at Eastlands
and although they have not been showing their best form of late they do grind
out those wins and Ferguson instils are rare self belief in his players.
A home win
offers little in the way of value although it simply has to be the call as
Spurs have been less than convincing on the road again this campaign (6-5-5).
For correct score options try 2-1 and 3-1.
Whatever
the result at Old Trafford Tottenham will be hoping that local rivals Arsenal
do them a favour by beating Man
City in the days late
kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
Whilst
title aspirations are a thing of the past for Wenger’s side for this season
they will be anxious to put the White
Hart Lane defeat and the humiliating Wigan collapse to bed with a return to winning ways. City
will also want to put the Manchester
derby defeat behind them and push for the lucrative fourth spot – thought to be
a prerequisite in keeping Mancini in his job – and to capitalise on any slip up
by Spurs.
With Robin
van Persie back and looking sharp the home side should be able to finish some
of their marvellous approach work and with the City strikers on fire until they
blanked against United last weekend we should be in for an exciting encounter.
Another
tough call but it simply has to be a return to form for Arsenal and they look
value at a shade of odds-on.
Leaders Chelsea have a must win
home match with Stoke on Sunday by which time they could find themselves a
couple of points behind Man United. On paper this looks a formality for
Ancelotti’s side but with captain John Terry suspended and the Potters out to
exploit any nerves this could take a little winning.
Stoke will
have a few players returning from injury and suspension and the addition of
Beattie, Shawcross and Etherington will certainly aid their cause and they will
make life difficult for Chelsea.
It is though very hard to see anything other than a home win and let’s go for a
2-0 correct score.
The Sunday
clash at Villa Park sees Aston Villa host Birmingham
in a game that the home side must win to keep alive their faint fourth place
hopes. Birmingham looked lacklustre in their goalless home draw with Hull last
weekend and with Villa securing a 2-0 win at Hull on Wednesday night that is
just what we should expect. This is however a derby match and one in which
traditionally the football is disappointing and goals thin on the ground. Under
the circumstances a 1-0 win for Villa is the recommendation.