Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur

[THFC6061]

Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton (Capacity: 29,303)
Wednesday 10th February 2010, Kick Off 19:45
Premier League, Match 26 (25 for Wolves)










Wolverhampton Wanderers: 19th in Premier League, 21 points from 72
Tottenham Hotspur: 4th in Premier League, 42 points from 75

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: David Richardson & Ceri Richards
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick

COMMENT:

Wolverhampton Wanderers host Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday 10th Februay at Molineux Stadium in a Premier League match which is vital for both teams, but for vastly different reasons. Wolves, who were the last team to beat Spurs in any competition at White Hart Lane, are in a relegation battle while Spurs will be fired-up to gain the maximum three points as they fight for a Top Four finish to the season.

Wolves last match was a 2-1 defeat on Sunday against local rivals Birmingham City with Kevin Doyle putting Wolves ahead only for Kevin Phillips to grab a brace for Birmingham. Spurs had a goalless draw against Aston Villa in a match they really should have won comfortably. Dropping vital points when Spurs have been dominant this season has started to become something of a nasty habit for Harry Redknapp's team.

The match in December at White Hart Lane saw Wolves take a very early lead through Kevin Doyle and Mike McCarthy's team defended resolutely to defend their advantage, despite relentless Spurs pressure.

Tottenham's very first Football League match was against Wolverhampton Wanderers at White Hart Lane on 1st September 1908. Wolves were very attractive opposition for the former Southern League side as they were the current FA Cup holders. Many had expected Spurs to crumble under such illustrious opposition but they were in for a shock as Spurs both outplayed and outscored their rivals to finish 3-0 winners.

The great Vivian Woodward had the honour of scoring Tottenham's very first Football League goal after just six minutes. Further goals in the second half came from Woodward again and Tom Morris.

The two teams have met in two Major Cup Finals, firstly in the 1921 FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge where Spurs won 1-0 with a Jimmy Dimmock goal and later in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final over two legs, with Spurs winning 2-1 at Molineux with Martin Chivers scoring twice followed my a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane with the recalled Alan Mullery netting for Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur's current squad features two players who have been on Wolves' books - striker Robbie Keane, now on loan to Celtic, played for Wolves from 1997 to 1999 where he played 87 games and scored 29 times in all competitions. Midfielder Tom Huddlestone was loaned by Spurs to Wolves during the 2005-06 season where he played 13 matches, scoring once.

TEAM NEWS:

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy may ring the changes following his side's defeat to local rivals Birmingham. New signing Adiene Guedioura is pushing for a first start after three consecutive appearances as substitute. Edwards, Keogh & Kightly (all ankle) & Murray (knee) are all injured for Wolves.

Roman Pavlyuchenko has returned to training ahead of Wednesday's Barclays Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The striker has been missing with a groin problem since coming off the bench to score against Leeds in the last round of the FA Cup two and a half weeks ago. However, Ledley King will be rested for the game at Molineux after playing 90 minutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa. Eidur Gudjohnsen is expected to play a part after being on the bench against Villa.

Meanwhile, Aaron Lennon (groin) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip) are making steady progress in their comebacks, with the latter running again. Aaron is back in rehab, and manager Harry Redknapp said: "He could possibly be back the weekend after next but it's difficult to say. It's really up to him to see how he feels and how the fitness coaches and physios see him. We won't rush him back until we're sure he's right."

Longer-term absentees Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) continue their recuperation.

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• The sides have clashed on 88 occasions in the league: Wolves have 26 wins, Tottenham 44 and there have been 18 draws.

• They famously met in the 1972 Uefa Cup final, which Tottenham won 3-2 on aggregate. Spurs won the first leg 2-1 at Molineux before a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane gave Bill Nicholson's side their second European trophy.

• Tottenham won both clashes the last time that Wolves were in the Premier League (5-2 at White Hart Lane and 2-0 at Molineux).

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• With 19 goals, Wolves are the second lowest goal-scorers in Premier League this season and they have scored more goals away from home (11) than they have at Molineux (9).

• The nine goals Wolves have conceded from corners is the most in the Premier League.

• Mick McCarthy's men have hit the target with just 37% of their shots this season, the lowest in the top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Tottenham have only scored three goals in the league in 2010 and their only victory in five matches came at home against Fulham.

• Spurs fell out of the top four for the first time since Boxing Day on Saturday. They have never been lower than sixth position all season.

• 44% of the goals Tottenham have conceded have come from left-footed shots, the highest proportion in the league.

LAST MATCH LINE-UPS:

Wolverhampton Wanderers (L 1-2 Birmingham City A):

Hahnemann, Craddock, Ward, Berra, Zubar, Mancienne, Foley (Ebanks-Blake 88 ) , Henry, Jones (Guedioura 67), Jarvis (Surman 88 )
Doyle

Substitutes: Hennessey, Elokobi, Mujangi Bia, Vokes

Yellow Cards: Mancienne, Henry, Jones

Goal: Doyle 42

Tottenham Hotspur (D 0-0 Aston Villa H):

Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale, Bentley, Palacios, Huddlestone, Modric, Defoe, Crouch.

Substitutes: Alnwick, Kaboul, Bassong, Jenas, Kyle Walker, Kranjcar, Gudjohnsen

Yellow Card: Bentley

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

To follow later.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday's match will be the 93rd meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Woilverhampton Wanderers.

The two clubs met in the 1921 FA Cup Final at Stamford Bridge with Spurs winning 1-0 with a Jimmy Dimmock goal. They also met in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final, played over two legs, with Spurs winning 2-1 at Molineux with a brace from Martin Chivers while the return leg at White Hart Lane resulted in a 1-1 draw with Alan Mullery scoring for Spurs.

Here are the results of the previous 92 matches with Spurs' score shown first:

01-Sep-1908 Division 2 20,000 H W 3 - 0 Morris, Woodward (2)
28-Dec-08 Division 2 9,000 A L 0 - 1
02-Apr-20 Division 2 38,000 H W 4 - 2 Cantrell, Bliss (3)
05-Apr-20 Division 2 25,000 A W 3 - 1 Grimsdell (2), Cantrell

23-Apr-21 F.A. Cup Final 72,805 F W 1 - 0 Dimmock
08-Sep-28 Division 2 26,018 H W 3 - 2 Galloway, Hartley, Scott
19-Jan-29 Division 2 11,956 A L 2 - 4 Osborne, Dimmock
19-Oct-29 Division 2 26,591 A L 0 - 3
22-Feb-30 Division 2 29,341 H W 4 - 2 Thompson, Rowley (3)
06-Sep-30 Division 2 24,990 A L 1 - 3 Cook
03-Jan-31 Division 2 26,221 H W 1 - 0 Cook
29-Aug-31 Division 2 23,267 A L 0 - 4
02-Jan-32 Division 2 25,122 H D 3 - 3 Hunt GS (3)
28-Aug-33 Division 1 20,953 H W 4 - 0 O'Callaghan (2), Hunt GS (2)
04-Sep-33 Division 1 20,510 A L 0 - 1
08-Sep-34 Division 1 37,114 H W 3 - 1 McCormick, Hunt GS, Hall GW
19-Jan-35 Division 1 28,209 A L 2 - 6 McCormick, Evans W
25-Aug-45 Football Lge Sth 33,852 H L 1 - 4 Broadis
01-Sep-45 Football Lge Sth 24,889 A L 2 - 4 Ward (pen), Lyman
16-Sep-50 Division 1 55,364 A L 1 - 2 Chatham og
20-Jan-51 Division 1 66,796 H W 2 - 1 Walters, McClellan
03-Nov-51 Division 1 61,626 H W 4 - 2 Ramsey (pen), Walters, Bennett, Duquemin
22-Mar-52 Division 1 45,343 A D 1 - 1 Baily
06-Dec-52 Division 1 37,062 A D 0 - 0
25-Apr-53 Division 1 48,136 H W 3 - 2 Ramsey (pen), Bennett (2)
05-Dec-53 Division 1 48,164 H L 2 - 3 Bennett, Duquemin
24-Apr-54 Division 1 44,055 A L 0 - 2
25-Aug-54 Division 1 47,776 H W 3 - 2 Dunmore (3)
30-Aug-54 Division 1 37,384 A L 2 - 4 Walters, Robb
19-Nov-55 Division 1 51,363 H W 2 - 1 McClellan, Robb
14-Apr-56 Division 1 29,890 A L 1 - 5 Harmer (pen)
08-Sep-56 Division 1 62,592 H W 4 - 1 Smith R (2), Brooks (2)
12-Jan-57 Division 1 42,416 A L 0 - 3
02-Oct-57 Division 1 36,024 A L 0 - 4
26-Dec-57 Division 1 58,393 H W 1 - 0 Smith R
27-Sep-58 Division 1 48,563 H W 2 - 1 Smith R, Clayton
02-Mar-59 Division 1 30,437 A D 1 - 1 Harmer
10-Oct-59 Division 1 59,344 H W 5 - 1 Smith R (4), Jones
23-Apr-60 Division 1 56,283 A W 3 - 1 Jones, Smith R, Mackay
01-Oct-60 Division 1 52,829 A W 4 - 0 Blanchflower, Jones, Allen, Dyson
22-Feb-61 Division 1 62,261 H D 1 - 1 Smith R
16-Sep-61 Division 1 45,334 H W 1 - 0 Mackay
03-Feb-62 Division 1 45,687 A L 1 - 3 White
12-Sep-62 Division 1 61,412 H L 1 - 2 White
19-Sep-62 Division 1 48,166 A D 2 - 2 Greaves (2)
28-Aug-63 Division 1 41,488 A W 4 - 1 Smith R (2), Greaves (2, 1pen)
04-Sep-63 Division 1 51,851 H W 4 - 3 Norman, White, Dyson (2)
14-Nov-64 Division 1 28,728 A L 1 - 3 Brown L
27-Mar-65 Division 1 28,974 H W 7 - 4 Clayton, Allen, Gilzean (2), Jones (3)
06-Sep-67 Division 1 44,408 H W 2 - 1 Robertson, Greaves
11-May-68 Division 1 40,929 A L 1 - 2 Greaves
07-Dec-68 Division 1 30,846 A L 0 - 2
25-Jan-69 F.A. Cup 4 48,985 H W 2 - 1 Johnson, Greaves
22-Feb-69 Division 1 35,912 H D 1 - 1 Morgan
03-Sep-69 League Cup 2 34,017 A L 0 - 1
11-Oct-69 Division 1 36,736 H L 0 - 1
07-Feb-70 Division 1 27,295 A D 2 - 2 Chivers (2)
22-Aug-70 Division 1 23,896 A W 3 - 0 Mullery, Chivers, Morgan
19-Dec-70 Division 1 30,544 H D 0 - 0
14-Aug-71 Division 1 30,495 A D 2 - 2 Chivers, Gilzean
16-Oct-71 Division 1 36,582 H W 4 - 1 Neighbour, Chivers (2), Gilzean
03-May-72 UEFA Cup Final (1L) 38,362 A W 2 - 1 Chivers (2)

17-May-72 UEFA Cup Final (2L) 54,303 H D 1 - 1 Mullery (Spurs won 3-2 on aggregate)
19-Aug-72 Division 1 24,237 A L 2 - 3 Pratt, Peters
20-Dec-72 League Cup SF (1L) 29,327 A W 2 - 1 Pratt, Peters
30-Dec-72 League Cup SF (2L) 41,653 H D 2 - 2 Chivers, Peters (aet)
30-Apr-73 Division 1 16,942 H D 2 - 2 Coates, Collins
24-Nov-73 Division 1 22,541 H L 1 - 3 Chivers (pen)
06-Apr-74 Division 1 24,073 A D 1 - 1 McGrath
21-Sep-74 Division 1 20,647 A W 3 - 2 Chivers (2), Peters
28-Mar-75 Division 1 27,238 H W 3 - 0 Perryman (2), Duncan
01-Nov-75 Division 1 26,102 H W 2 - 1 Young, Neighbour
16-Mar-76 Division 1 21,544 A W 1 - 0 Pratt
16-Oct-78 Friendly - A L 1 - 2 Jones
25-Nov-78 Division 1 35,430 H W 1 - 0 Taylor
03-Apr-79 Division 1 19,819 A L 2 - 3 Jones (2)
05-Apr-80 Division 1 30,713 A W 2 - 1 Jones, Galvin
23-Apr-80 Division 1 19,843 H D 2 - 2 Armstrong, Galvin
08-Nov-80 Division 1 29,244 H D 2 - 2 Hoddle(pen), Crooks
11-Apr-81 F.A. Cup SF 40,174 Hl D 2 - 2 Archibald, Hoddle (aet)
15-Apr-81 F.A. Cup SF Replay 52,539 Hi W 3 - 0 Crooks (2), Villa
30-Apr-81 Division 1 18,350 A L 0 - 1
12-Sep-81 Division 1 18,675 A W 1 - 0 Galvin
06-Feb-82 Division 1 29,960 H W 6 - 1 Villa (3), Falco, Hoddle (pen), Crooks
15-Oct-83 Division 1 12,523 A W 3 - 2 Archibald (2), Falco
31-Mar-84 Division 1 19,296 H W 1 - 0 Hazard
27-Jan-96 F.A. Cup 4 32,812 H D 1 - 1 Wilson
07-Feb-96 F.A. Cup 4 Replay 27,846 A W 2 - 0 Rosenthal, Sheringham
31-Jul-99 Friendly 11,418 A D 1 - 1 Iversen
06-Dec-2003 FA Prem 34,825 H W 5 - 2 Keane (3), Kanoute, Dalmat
15-May-04 FA Prem 29,389 A W 2 - 0 Keane, Defoe
12-Dec-09 FA Prem 36,012 H L 0 - 1
10-Feb-10 FA Prem A







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

My Football Facts & Stats | Tottenham Hotspur | Match Preview 33

[THFC6061]

SPURS TEAM NEWS:

Roman Pavlyuchenko has returned to training ahead of Wednesday's Barclays Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The striker has been missing with a groin problem since coming off the bench to score against Leeds in the last round of the FA Cup two and a half weeks ago.

However, Ledley King will be rested for the game at Molineux after playing 90 minutes in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Aston Villa.

Eidur Gudjohnsen is expected to play a part after being on the bench against Villa.

Meanwhile, Aaron Lennon (groin) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip) are making steady progress in their comebacks, with the latter running again.

Aaron is back in rehab, and manager Harry Redknapp said:

"He could possibly be back the weekend after next but it's difficult to say. It's really up to him to see how he feels and how the fitness coaches and physios see him. We won't rush him back until we're sure he's right."

Longer-term absentees Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) continue their recuperation.

[The Cryptkeeper]

No goddamn coverage of this game in Australia.

The only farking EPL match this season that we have not had TV coverage of....Jesus I'm angry.

Relying heavily on you guys for updates.

Either that or how can I stream this game?

[P UNIT 1980]

Sopcast mate.

Go to mp2p.com and install the relevant players before the game.

Get on here and the lads will talk you through it if you have problems.

It is straight forward though tbh.

Then you have your player browser open and thtv rowser running side by side so you can have banter about the match in the chat box on the forum home page.

P.

[SirBillyNick]

myp2p.eu mate