Stoke v Tottenham – Britannia Stadium at 20:00 live on Sky Sports 1
With league leaders Leicester only managing to pick up a point at home to West Ham yesterday, Tottenham will be looking to gain ground on the Foxes this evening as they travel to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City.
Spurs trail Leicester by 8 points going into tonight and if it wasn’t for Ulloa’s stoppage time penalty in yesterday’s entertaining clash with West Ham, it could have been even better for the north Londoners. Still, they are able to close the gap to 5 points with a win tonight and they are good value to do so.
The Britannia has always been a tough place to get 3 points but no other team has won more as visitors than Tottenham. The Lilywhites have also only been beaten by the Potters five times in 15 meetings and on four of those occasions they went down to 10 men.
Tottenham’s have the second best away record in the league and have only lost twice on the road all season. They also have the league’s best defence, conceding just 9 in their last 12 outings and 13 all campaign. With those stats, they are rightfully odds on favourites but I’m surprised they’re not shorter than 1.73.
Stoke have had a pretty inconsistent season but sit 9th in the league and still have a slim chance of registering their highest ever Premier League points total, although I think it’s doubtful.
Mark Hughes has made them in to a more entertaining side, changing the Tony Pulis philosophy that had been instilled at the club for many years and he is on the verge of bringing them out of regular mid-table obscurity, which fans have now come accustom to.
Despite some really good performances this season along with impressive wins over the league’s top sides, some below par results have let them down, but along with a Capital One Cup semi final, overall it’s been a successful season for the Potters.
They have seemed to have taken their foot off the gas recently though and there is no doubt they are missing the injured Jack Butland in goal. With just one win in their last 5 BPL outings and leaking 6 goals in their last 2 games, Stoke are rightfully underdogs for tonight despite having home advantage.
Tottenham still have a lot to play for, the title still requires a Leicester slip up, but a first ever top 2 Premier League finish, and to finish above north London rivals Arsenal, is still enough reason to go all out in the last 5 matches.
Apart from Nabil Bentaleb, Pochettino can pick his strongest side, whereas Hughes is without Butland and Walters,and Whelan and Arnautovic are doubtful.
Backing the visitors -0.75 on the Asian Handicap betting market at 1.94 will be profitable as I only see a Spurs win here. I also wouldn’t put people off backing Over 2.5 goals either as 1.99 certainly offers some value. The leagues second best attack against a Stoke side who have netted in each of their last 8 games, I’m expecting to see a few goals here.
Asian Handicap Betting Recommendation: Tottenham -0.75 at 1.94 & Over 2.5 goals at 1.99
Prices correct at time of writing.
By @SC457.
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