Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

[THFC6061]

White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs
Sunday 28th February 2010, Kick Off 13:00
Premier League, Match 28 (27 for Everton)









Tottenham Hotspur: 4th in Premier League, 46 points from 81
Everton: 8th in Premier League, 38 points from 78

Referee: Steve Bennett
Assistant referees: Andy Halliday & Simon Long
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell





COMMENT:

Tottenham Hotspur host Everton in the Sunday lunchtime Premier League fixture in what promises to be a mouth-watering feast of football between two clubs who are both enjoying a fine run of recent form.

Spurs are fresh from an impressive 4-0 FA Cup win over Bolton Wanderers in which Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored twice, the first from a Luka Modric assist and the second from a Danny Rose assist and two own goals were scored by the Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen after a Wilson Palacios cross from the right and Bolton defender O'Brien from a Gareth Bale cross from the left.

Everton lost 3-0 to Sporting Lisbon midweek in a UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second leg match and were eliminated from the competition. Former Spurs player Pedro Mendes scored the second Porto goal.

Both teams won in the Premier League last weekend with Spurs coming out on top 3-0 at Wigan Athletic with a brace from Roman Pavlyuchenko and one from Jermain Defoe while Everton had an impressive 3-1 home win over Manchester United with goals from Bilyaletdinov, Gosling and Rodwell.

The clubs have already met twice this season with Spurs winning 2-0 at White Hart Lane in the League Cup fourth round with goals from Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane while the away League fixture at Goodison Park in December saw Spurs take a two goal lead through Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson only for Everton to snatch the draw with goals from Louis Saha and Tim Cahill.

Spurs have won 17 of the 35 Premier League games played between the two clubs with Everton winning 5 and 13 draws. In fact, Spurs have won more Premier League points (64) from Everton than from any other club.

TEAM NEWS:

Harry Redknapp will monitor the fitness of strikers Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch as he prepares the squad for Everton on Sunday.
‘JD' left the action at half-time in Wednesday night's FA Cup replay win against Bolton with a tight hamstring while ‘Crouchy' was unavailable for that game because of a foot injury.
"We're not sure on those two at the moment," reported Harry on Friday. "We've got training today and Saturday morning and we'll wait to see how they are then."
David Bentley also departed Wednesday's action early but the midfielder is available for Sunday. "He had a tight groin but he came off only as a precaution," explained Harry. "He will be okay."
Ledley King (thigh), Jermaine Jenas (groin) and Aaron Lennon (groin) remain sidelined. "Aaron has been to see another specialist and we're hoping with rest and strengthening he'll be back as soon as we can get him fit," said Harry.
Vedran Corluka missed Bolton through illness and Wilson Palacios came off in the second half after feeling the effects of a virus. Vedran trained on Friday and it is hoped both will be in the frame for Everton on Sunday.On the virus, Harry said: "It hasn't disrupted us, we are still training as normal."


Everton have three players currently out injured: Cahill (Calf Muscle Strain), Fellaini (Ankle/Foot) and Hibbert (Groin Strain).

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• From 1992 to 2004 the Toffees managed just two wins against Spurs in the league, but they are unbeaten in their last five matches and have won on their last three league visits to White Hart Lane. In 17 seasons of Premier League encounters, Tottenham have won 17, Everton five and there have been 13 draws.

• None of the last eight league games between these sides have been won by the home team.

• Tim Howard has already saved two penalties in matches against Tottenham this season.

Tottenham Hotspur

• The Lilywhites have kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 league games and five in a row at White Hart Lane. Their record in the Premier League is six, set last season under Harry Redknapp.

• Tottenham have not won in any competition since August having failed to score in the first half, a run of 31 games.

• Between them, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko have claimed 10 out of the last 12 goals Tottenham have scored in all competitions, the other two were own goals.

Everton

• The Toffees have lost only one of their last 12 league outings (a 1-0 defeat at Liverpool), but have won only one of their last seven away games in the league.

• Everton have managed to keep only only kept one clean sheet in their last nine league matches away from home.

• David Moyes's side have scored in 11 of their last 12 league games.

LAST MATCH LINE-UPS:

Tottenham Hotspur (W 4-0 Bolton Wanderers, FA Cup 5th Round Replay H)

Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Bassong, Bale, Bentley (Rose 70), Palacios (Kranjcar 60), Huddlestone, Modric, Defoe
(Gudjohnsen 45), Pavlyuchenko

Substitutes: Alnwick, Dervite, Kane, M'Poku

Goals: Pavlyuchenko 23 & 87, Jaaskelainen (og) 35, O'Brien (og) 47

Everton (L 0-3 Sporting Lisbon Agg 4-2, Europa League Round of 32 2nd Leg A)

Howard, Baines, Yobo, Neville, Senderos (Jagielka 52), Bilyaletdinov (Rodwell 61), Donovan (Yakubu 73), Arteta, Pienaar, Osman, Saha

Substitutes: Nash, Coleman, Gosling, Anichebe

Yellow Card: Pienaar

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Everton's 3-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday ended their Europa League hopes and was a real blow for them. I thought they had a good chance of going to Lisbon and winning, or at least getting through the tie.
Tottenham have very good home form. The 3-0 win at Wigan last week was a good result, they have competition for places and I'm backing them to compound Everton's misery.

Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Everton

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Sunday afternoon's match will be the 165th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Here are the results of the previous 164 matches with Spurs' score shown first:

22-Apr-1897 Friendly - H W 2 - 1 Lanham, Newbigging
01-Jan-1902 Friendly - A L 1 - 3 Smith
06-Feb-04 F.A. Cup 1 25,000 A W 2 - 1 Woodward, Balmer og
07-May-05 Tour - A L 0 - 2 (Match played in Vienna, Austria)
16-May-05 Tour - A L 0 - 1 (Match played in Prague)
11-Jan-08 F.A. Cup 1 21,000 A W 0 - 1
05-Jun-09 Tour - A D 2 - 2 Tull, Middlemiss (Match played in Palermo, Argentina)
19-Jun-09 Tour - A L 0 - 4 (Match played in Palermo, Argentina)
04-Sep-09 Division 1 20,000 A L 2 - 4 Minter, Middlemiss
08-Jan-10 Division 1 24,000 H W 3 - 0 Steel R, Middlemiss (2)
01-Sep-10 Division 1 22,000 A L 0 - 2
17-Apr-11 Division 1 20,000 H L 0 - 1
02-Sep-11 Division 1 25,000 A D 2 - 2 J McTavish, Young
30-Dec-11 Division 1 24,500 H L 0 - 1
02-Sep-12 Division 1 22,000 H L 0 - 2
01-Jan-13 Division 1 30,000 A W 2 - 1 Minter (2)
22-Nov-13 Division 1 22,000 H W 4 - 1 Bauchop, Bliss (2), Middlemiss
28-Mar-14 Division 1 15,000 A D 1 - 1 Sparrow
02-Sep-14 Division 1 9,000 H L 1 - 3 Cantrell
01-Jan-15 Division 1 17,000 A D 1 - 1 Bliss
12-Mar-21 Division 1 30,000 H W 2 - 0 Archibald, Seed
27-Apr-21 Division 1 23,000 A D 0 - 0
25-Feb-22 Division 1 34,871 H W 2 - 0 Wilson, Dimmock
15-Mar-22 Division 1 30,000 A D 0 - 0
04-Sep-22 Division 1 24,262 H W 2 - 0 Seed, Bliss
01-Jan-23 Division 1 20,000 A L 1 - 3 Lindsay
12-Apr-24 Division 1 14,606 H L 2 - 5 Walden, Lindsay
19-Apr-24 Division 1 20,000 A L 2 - 4 Lindsay, Raitt og
13-Sep-24 Division 1 35,039 H D 0 - 0
17-Jan-25 Division 1 30,000 A L 0 - 1
12-Sep-25 Division 1 37,506 A D 1 - 1 Dimmock
23-Jan-26 Division 1 22,805 H D 1 - 1 Thompson
28-Aug-26 Division 1 28,324 H W 2 - 1 Blair, Osborne
15-Jan-27 Division 1 35,986 A W 2 - 1 Blair, Dimmock
01-Oct-27 Division 1 7,716 H L 1 - 3 Townley
11-Feb-28 Division 1 29,149 A W 5 - 3 O'Callaghan (4), Dimmock
25-Oct-30 Division 2 25,265 A L 2 - 4 Smy (2)
16-Mar-31 Division 2 30,205 H W 1 - 0 Harper
21-Oct-33 Division 1 35,082 A D 1 - 1 Evans W
13-Jan-34 F.A. Cup 3 45,637 H W 3 - 0 Howe, Hunt GS, Evans W
03-Mar-34 Division 1 26,121 H W 3 - 0 Hunt GS (3)
25-Aug-34 Division 1 50,586 H D 1 - 1 Hall GW
29-Dec-34 Division 1 25,851 A L 2 - 5 McCormick, Hall AG
20-Feb-37 F.A. Cup 5 57,149 A D 1 - 1 McCormick
22-Feb-37 F.A. Cup 5 Replay 46,972 H W 4 - 3 Meek, Morrison (3)
11-Feb-50 F.A. Cup 5 72,921 A L 0 - 1
11-Nov-50 Division 1 47,125 A W 2 - 1 Baily, Medley
31-Mar-51 Division 1 46,651 H W 3 - 0 Walters, Bennett, Murphy
04-Dec-54 Division 1 31,554 H L 1 - 3 Baily
09-Apr-55 Division 1 42,219 A L 0 - 1
17-Sep-55 Division 1 42,851 A L 1 - 2 Walters
21-Jan-56 Division 1 37,119 H D 1 - 1 Smith R
25-Dec-56 Division 1 27,761 H W 6 - 0 Medwin, (2), Harmer (pen), Smith R (2), Stokes
26-Dec-56 Division 1 20,172 A D 1 - 1 Robb
09-Nov-57 Division 1 39,999 H W 3 - 1 Brooks, Smith R, Harmer (pen)
05-Apr-58 Division 1 30,149 A W 4 - 3 Smith (2), Clayton (2)
11-Oct-58 Division 1 37,794 H W 10 - 4 Ryden, Medwin, Harmer, Smith R (4), Stokes (2), Robb
28-Feb-59 Division 1 36,782 A L 1 - 2 Jones
21-Nov-59 Division 1 39,432 H W 3 - 0 Jones (pen), Harris og, King og
09-Apr-60 Division 1 57,959 A L 1 - 2 Jones
20-Aug-60 Division 1 50,393 H W 2 - 0 Smith R, Allen
17-Dec-60 Division 1 61,052 A W 3 - 1 Mackay, White, Allen
04-Nov-61 Division 1 54,234 A L 0 - 3
24-Mar-62 Division 1 47,343 H W 3 - 1 Jones, White, Greaves
01-Dec-62 Division 1 60,626 H D 0 - 0
20-Apr-63 Division 1 67,650 A L 0 - 1
26-Oct-63 Division 1 65,386 A L 0 - 1
07-Mar-64 Division 1 41,923 H L 2 - 4 Allen, Dyson
29-Aug-64 Division 1 55,148 A L 1 - 4 Jones
19-Dec-64 Division 1 41,994 H D 2 - 2 Greaves (2)
09-Sep-65 Division 1 40,022 A L 1 - 3 Mullery
01-Jan-66 Division 1 36,953 H D 2 - 2 Knowles, Saul
22-Mar-67 Division 1 50,108 A W 1 - 0 Greaves
27-Mar-67 Division 1 46,917 H W 2 - 0 Mullery, Gilzean
23-Aug-67 Division 1 53,809 H D 1 - 1 Gilzean
29-Aug-67 Division 1 57,790 A W 1 - 0 Saul
17-Aug-68 Division 1 56,570 A W 2 - 0 Greaves, Chivers
08-Mar-69 Division 1 44,882 H D 1 - 1 Morgan
17-Dec-69 Division 1 28,494 H X 0 - 0 (Match Abandoned 29th minute, floodlight failure)
11-Mar-70 Division 1 27,764 H L 0 - 1
14-Mar-70 Division 1 51,533 A L 2 - 3 Gilzean, Bond (pen)
28-Nov-70 Division 1 44,301 A D 0 - 0
30-Jan-71 Division 1 42,105 H W 2 - 1 Gilzean, Chivers
06-Nov-71 Division 1 40,005 H W 3 - 0 Pratt, Chivers (2)
26-Feb-72 F.A. Cup 5 50,511 A W 2 - 0 Gilzean, Peters
01-Mar-72 Division 1 21,601 A D 1 - 1 Peters
16-Dec-72 Division 1 31,129 A L 1 - 3 Neighbour
24-Feb-73 Division 1 27,427 H W 3 - 0 Gilzean, Chivers, Pearce
03-Nov-73 Division 1 37,827 A D 1 - 1 Perryman
30-Mar-74 Division 1 19,839 H L 0 - 2
09-Nov-74 Division 1 29,052 H D 1 - 1 Chivers
01-Feb-75 Division 1 40,912 A L 0 - 1
10-Dec-75 Division 1 18,638 H D 2 - 2 Pratt, Duncan
24-Feb-76 Division 1 18,126 A L 0 - 1
30-Oct-76 Division 1 26,047 H D 3 - 3 McAllister, Osgood (pen), Pratt
26-Mar-77 Division 1 32,549 A L 0 - 4
30-Dec-78 Division 1 44,572 A D 1 - 1 Taylor
05-May-79 Division 1 26,077 H D 1 - 1 Ardiles
24-Nov-79 Division 1 31,079 A D 1 - 1 Jones
19-Apr-80 Division 1 25,245 H W 3 - 0 Miller, Ardiles, Galvin
01-Nov-80 Division 1 26,223 A D 2 - 2 Archibald (2)
04-Apr-81 Division 1 27,208 H D 2 - 2 Galvin, Crooks
19-Sep-81 Division 1 31,219 H W 3 - 0 Hughton, Roberts, Hoddle (pen)
30-Jan-82 Division 1 30,709 A D 1 - 1 Villa
04-Sep-82 Division 1 30,563 A L 1 - 3 Archibald
03-Jan-83 Division 1 28,455 H W 2 - 1 Gibson (2)
19-Feb-83 F.A. Cup 5 42,995 A L 0 - 2
17-Sep-83 Division 1 29,125 H L 1 - 2 Falco
21-Jan-84 Division 1 17,990 A L 1 - 2 Archibald
25-Aug-84 Division 1 35,630 A W 4 - 1 Falco, Allen C (2), Chiedozie
03-Apr-85 Division 1 48,108 H L 1 - 2 Roberts
26-Aug-85 Division 1 29,750 H L 0 - 1
01-Feb-86 Division 1 33,178 A L 0 - 1
05-Feb-86 SSS Cup SF 1L 7,548 H D 0 - 0
04-Mar-86 F.A. Cup 5 23,338 H L 1 - 2 Falco
19-Mar-86 SSS Cup SF 2L 12,008 A L 1 - 3 (a.e.t) Falco
27-Sep-86 Division 1 28,007 H W 2 - 0 Allen C (2)
11-May-87 Division 1 28,287 A L 0 - 1
05-Sep-87 Division 1 32,389 A D 0 - 0
09-Mar-88 Division 1 18,662 H W 2 - 1 Fairclough, Walsh
03-Dec-88 Division 1 29,657 A L 0 - 1
22-Apr-89 Division 1 28,568 H W 2 - 1 Walsh (2)
22-Aug-89 Division 1 34,402 A L 1 - 2 Allen
09-Dec-89 Division 1 29,374 H W 2 - 1 Stewart, Lineker
18-Nov-90 Division 1 23,716 A D 1 - 1 Howells
24-Apr-91 Division 1 21,675 H D 3 - 3 Allen, Mabbutt, Nayim
05-Oct-91 Division 1 29,505 A L 1 - 3 Lineker
25-Apr-92 Division 1 36,340 H D 3 - 3 Stewart, Minton, Allen
05-Sep-92 FA Prem 26,503 H W 2 - 1 Allen, Turner
10-Feb-93 FA Prem 16,164 A W 2 - 1 Mabbutt, Allen
03-Oct-93 FA Prem 27,487 H W 3 - 2 Sheringham, Anderton, Caskey
26-Mar-94 FA Prem 23,460 A W 1 - 0 Sedgley
24-Aug-94 FA Prem 24,553 H W 2 - 1 Klinsmann (2)
17-Dec-94 FA Prem 32,813 A D 0 - 0
09-Apr-95 F.A. Cup SF 38,226 ER L 1 - 4 Klinsmann (pen)
22-Oct-95 FA Prem 33,629 A D 1 - 1 Armstrong
02-Dec-95 FA Prem 32,894 H D 0 - 0
24-Aug-96 FA Prem 29,669 H D 0 - 0
12-Apr-97 FA Prem 36,380 A L 0 - 1
29-Nov-97 FA Prem 36,670 A W 2 - 0 Vega, Ginola
04-Apr-98 FA Prem 35,646 H D 1 - 1 Armstrong
29-Aug-98 FA Prem 39,379 A W 1 - 0 Ferdinand
28-Dec-98 FA Prem 36,053 H W 4 - 1 Ferdinand, Armstrong (3)
14-Aug-99 FA Prem 34,539 H W 3 - 2 Sherwood, Iversen, Leonhardsen
15-Jan-2000 FA Prem 36,144 A D 2 - 2 Armstrong, Ginola
05-Sep-00 FA Prem 36,010 H W 3 - 2 Rebrov (2, 1 pen), Ferdinand
13-Jan-01 FA Prem 32,290 A D 0 - 0
20-Aug-01 FA Prem 29,503 A D 1 - 1 Anderton
19-Jan-02 FA Prem 36,056 H D 1 - 1 Ferdinand
17-Aug-02 FA Prem 40,120 A D 2 - 2 Etherington, Ferdinand
12-Jan-03 FA Prem 36,070 H W 4 - 3 Poyet, Keane (3)
04-Oct-03 FA Prem 36,137 H W 3 - 0 Kanoute, Poyet, Keane
09-Apr-04 FA Prem 38,086 A L 1 - 3 Carr
02-Oct-04 FA Prem 38,264 A W 1 - 0 Pamarot
01-Jan-05 FA Prem 36,102 H W 5 - 2 Marney (2), Ziegler, Mendes, Keane
15-Oct-05 FA Prem 36,267 H W 2 - 0 Mido, Jenas
15-Apr-06 FA Prem 39,856 A W 1 - 0 Keane (pen)
26-Aug-06 FA Prem 35,540 H L 0 - 2
21-Feb-07 FA Prem 34,121 A W 2 - 1 Berbatov, Jenas
14-Aug-07 FA Prem 35,716 H L 1 - 3 Gardner
30-Jan-08 FA Prem 35,840 A D 0 - 0
30-Nov-08 FA Prem 35,742 H L 0 - 1
09-May-09 FA Prem 36,646 A D 0 - 0
27-Oct-09 Lge Cup R4 35,843 H W 2 - 0 Huddlestone, Keane
06-Dec-09 FA Prem 34,003 A D 2 - 2 Defoe, Dawson
28-Feb-10 FA Prem H

Full match preview, featuring match report and images from the last meeting between Spurs & Everton, available here:

My Football Facts & Stats | Tottenham Hotspur | Match Preview 37

[kevfball63]

Always great work mate and thanx

[Berbatov]

Great stats!

11-Oct-58 Division 1 37,794 H W 10 - 4 Ryden, Medwin, Harmer, Smith R (4), Stokes (2), Robb

Does anyone know what is this match famous for /except the 14 goals, of course/?

[Siberian Dreamer]

Big fan of Everton.. but we've a good record against them and they hopefully won't bounce back in style from tonight's defeat. Thinking a 2-1 win for us.

[spurs2rise]

Everton are in some good form. THis wont be so easy.

[BigDub]

This certainly won't be an easy match in the least. Cahill and Fellaini are both big losses for them. Cahill scored that all-important goal at Goodison and Fellaini is always a pest. However, it sort of offsets Lennon and potentially Defoe being out. 2 big players for both sides. I hope that Charlie has gotten rid of that bug because a team like Everton will be able to take advantage if we play someone like BAE at right back. If Charlie is back there it adds a lot of stability. The key is going to be whether or not Spurs can control the central midfield given that Fellaini is out. I expect Wilson will have a big game and together with Hudd should be able to physically dominate possession. I feel like Everton might be forced out wide without Fellaini in the center. Don't know quite what to think about it, but with Donovan they do have an added weapon out on the wing that we didn't see the first time round. I honestly don't have the greatest of ideas as to what will happen. I personally thought we were the much better side in the first meeting but Everton have really come on strong here lately.

------------Gomes-------------
-Corluka-Dawson-Bassong-Bale-
-Bentley-Hudd-Palacios-Modric-
----Crouch---Pavlyuchenko----


I'm going to go with a 2-1 victory for Spurs but must admit I'm not all that confident in this prediction. Everton are always, always tough. Saha has had a very good season and this kid Rodwell looks like he'll be a hell of a player. They get good goalkeeping from Howard and have crafty, smart players like Pienaar and Arteta all around the pitch. If Dawson and Bassong continue to be aggressive yet smart, and Gomes continues his errorless form it will make a victory that much more possible


COYS!

[THFC6061]

Great stats!



Does anyone know what is this match famous for /except the 14 goals, of course/?

This was the first match in which a certain Bill Nicholson was manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

I wonder what happened to him afterwards?

[THFC6061]

SPURS HIT BY VIRUS

Tottenham's preparations for the Premier League clash against Everton have been disrupted by a virus at the club.



Spurs boss Harry Redknapp held his pre-match media duties at White Hart Lane instead of the usual venue of the training ground.



He said: "We've closed the training ground. Everything is off limits. We're just going to train there and that's it."

[THFC6061]

GARETH BALE ON EVERTON:



Gareth Bale says he's taking it a game at a time as the flying full-back continues to impress down our left flank.
The Welsh international starred again as we beat Bolton 4-0 in Wednesday night's FA Cup replay at White Hart Lane.
That was Gareth's 12th successive start since returning to the side for the injured Benoit Assou-Ekotto against Peterborough United on January 2.
His performances have drawn praise from all quarters, not least boss Harry Redknapp, who insisted that ‘there can't be many better left-backs around' after the Bolton win.
However, Gareth knows he'll have to maintain his form with Benoit, outstanding last season and for the first half of this term, fit again and back in the side at right-back against Bolton.
"It's competition for places and that can only help the squad and the team," said Gareth. "I will concentrate on my game and hopefully I'll continue doing well.
"I'm enjoying getting a run in the team and I just want to take it one game at a time, try to maintain my form and stay in the team."
After a convincing win against Bolton - where Gareth set-up the third goal with a typical dash to the byline - the 20-year-old knows we'll have to be at our best when we return to Premier League action against Everton on Sunday.
Although well beaten in the Europa League on Thursday night, the Toffees are on a run of just one defeat in 11 Premier League matches and have beaten Chelsea and United in recent weeks, toppling United 3-1 at Goodison last weekend.
"They are doing well," added Gareth. "They have beaten United and Chelsea recently so we'll be preparing for a tough test. We'll do all we can to get the win on the day.
"They weren't in the best form when we played them at Goodison (we led 2-0 before a 2-2 draw on December 6) but they've turned it around since then and we know we're in for a tough game on Sunday. We know that and we'll be prepared for it."

[Darren]

if charlie is ruled out hope Kaboul is not is replacment he his a good cb but rb hes awlful

[THFC6061]

KRANJCAR ON EVERTON:



Niko Kranjcar feels we've had the perfect build-up to Sunday's vital clash against Everton - and now we have to make it count.

Sunday's excellent 3-0 win in testing conditions at Wigan saw us move back into fourth place in the Barclays Premier League and we followed that up with a dominant display and 4-0 win in the FA Cup fifth-round replay against Bolton at the Lane on Wednesday night to set-up a quarter-final tie at Fulham.


The third and final piece of the jigsaw before international matches next midweek comes in the shape of an Everton side rejuvenated in the Premier League.


Although well beaten in the Europa League at Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night, the Toffees are on a run of just one defeat in 11 matches in the Premier League.


That run stretches back to our 2-2 draw at Goodison and no doubt the confidence they gained from hauling back a 2-0 deficit against us with two goals in the final 10 minutes.


They beat Chelsea on February 10 and rubber-stamped their league form with an impressive 3-1 win against United last weekend to move into eighth place.


Speaking in Sunday's official matchday programme, Niko insisted: "It's been a great week for us and the perfect way to prepare for what is a massive game against Everton.


"We want to stay in the top four, but to do that we have to be winning these games.


"They are a team that has come back into form. They struggled at the start of the season, especially with injury problems and they didn't pick up the results maybe they should have.


"Now, with most of their players fit, they've proved they are a great team and, but for those injuries, they would probably be right in the shake-up for the top four.


"But this is about our hopes and dreams, that's what we must focus on. You want to be in the mix at this stage of the season, not mid-table. We want to be able to achieve something that we all know is massive for the club and that no-one has achieved in a long time, to break into the top four.


"We're in there fighting, we have the opportunity. We just have to take it."


ALSO IN THE PROGRAMME...


Harry Redknapp - His exclusive column.
A to Z - An alphabetical look through the career of Jermaine Jenas.
Numbers Game - Aaron Lennon and Christian Ziege feature in our shirt numbers feature.
From the archives - Classic photographs from matches against Everton.
World Cup countdown - The great Jimmy Greaves and his World Cups of 1962 and 1966.

[THFC6061]

SPURS TEAM NEWS:

Harry Redknapp will monitor the fitness of strikers Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch as he prepares the squad for Everton on Sunday.

‘JD' left the action at half-time in Wednesday night's FA Cup replay win against Bolton with a tight hamstring while ‘Crouchy' was unavailable for that game because of a foot injury.

"We're not sure on those two at the moment," reported Harry on Friday. "We've got training today and Saturday morning and we'll wait to see how they are then."

David Bentley also departed Wednesday's action early but the midfielder is available for Sunday. "He had a tight groin but he came off only as a precaution," explained Harry. "He will be okay."

Ledley King (thigh), Jermaine Jenas (groin) and Aaron Lennon (groin) remain sidelined. "Aaron has been to see another specialist and we're hoping with rest and strengthening he'll be back as soon as we can get him fit," said Harry.

Vedran Corluka missed Bolton through illness and Wilson Palacios came off in the second half after feeling the effects of a virus. Vedran trained on Friday and it is hoped both will be in the frame for Everton on Sunday.
On the virus, Harry said: "It hasn't disrupted us, we are still training as normal."

[THFC6061]

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

Everton's 3-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday ended their Europa League hopes and was a real blow for them. I thought they had a good chance of going to Lisbon and winning, or at least getting through the tie.

Tottenham have very good home form. The 3-0 win at Wigan last week was a good result, they have competition for places and I'm backing them to compound Everton's misery.

Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Everton

[SirBillyNick]

Great stats!



Does anyone know what is this match famous for /except the 14 goals, of course/?

my namesake's first game in charge

[THFC6061]

DAWSON ON EVERTON:



Michael Dawson is relishing the challenge of this key phase of the season.

Sunday's potential cracker against Everton is the third match of a significant week where we've climbed back into fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League after beating Wigan and moved into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a convincing 4-0 win against Bolton.


With internationals next midweek and that big FA Cup tie at Fulham on Saturday week, March 6 - with a semi-final place at Wembley at stake - Michael underlined the importance of Sunday's fixture against the Toffees.
"Every game at the moment is massive," said the popular, in-form defender. "We're fourth in the Premier League and we want to stay there and we now go to Fulham in the FA Cup and of course we'd all love to go to Wembley and win the FA Cup.


"As a player, it's where you want to be at this stage of the season. Every game is vital.


"There is nothing between the teams going for fourth spot and we've got to earn the right to stay there, starting against Everton. We're all aiming to put in another good performance on Sunday."


You got the impression that our 2-2 draw at Goodison in December still rankles with Michael.


He was on the scoresheet as we dominated, looked to be cruising at 2-0 up only for Everton to haul themselves back into it with two goals in the final 10 minutes. Even then, we missed a last-minute penalty to win it.
That day certainly acted as a springboard for Everton, who have lost just once in 11 matches in the Premier League since to move up to eighth in the table.


Key players have returned and their form was there for all to see when they deservedly beat United 3-1 at Goodison last weekend.


"We were 2-0 up at Everton and obviously disappointed not to end up winning that game," said ‘Daws'. "Since then, they've been on a great run.
"They've got a few players back from injury over the last few weeks and they are a good team, we all know that. They had a fantastic result against United last week and they are a team playing with bags of confidence. It should be a good game on Sunday."