Spurs v Fulham: Can Fulham deny Spurs a top four place?
For Spurs the aim is simple. Beat Fulham and hope Arsenal slip up at West Brom. In all honesty, Spurs should have their destiny in their own hands. After Arsenal dropped points at Norwich last weekend, all Spurs had to do was beat a depleted and confidence-sapped Aston Villa side. Instead Harry Redknapp's men came away with a draw allowing Arsenal back in the driving seat. But will there be another twist in the tale in the battle for third place?
Fulham have performed heroics this season and everyone at the club fully deserves their summer holiday this year. Martin Jol has managed to keep the players fresh and motivated despite their exploits in Europe and our worthy of their top half finish. Much of that has been down to the scoring prowess of Clint Dempsey. Fortunately for Spurs, he misses out today's game through injury, but the likes of Damien Duff, Moussa Dembele and Pavel Pogrebnyak will all be looking to end the season on a high note.
White Hart Lane has been a scene of misery for Fulham down the years. They have only triumphed in north London twice since the end of the Second World War. The last time was in 2003 when Barry Hayles (2) and Louis Boa-Morte scored in a shock 3-0 win. Do Fulham have enough left in the tank to potentially prevent Spurs from clinching a Champions League spot? Possibly.
Fulham have won five of their past seven outings in the top flight but Spurs have only lost at home three times all season. The nerves are there for all to see at White Hart Lane but there is enough class and quality in the ranks to surely secure a place in the top four. Then it's a case of backing Bayern in the Champions League final! But let's not forget that Newcastle United could well triumph at Goodison Park meaning a point for Spurs would not even be enough to finish fourth.
Martin Jol was Spurs' boss when they missed out on a place in the top four on the final day of the season in 2006. He will know how much that hurt and wouldn't want Spurs fans to go through it again, but he is a professional and he will be wanting the best for Fulham, which will be three vital away points. But can Fulham deny Spurs the points and gift third to Arsenal? Our pundits are not convinced.
Spurs v Fulham; Kick Off 3pm May 13 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich City |
Sue Read |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
Arjun Swaminathan |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Tottenham |
Mike Richards |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Swansea |
Jim White |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Phil Bundy |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Matt Turner |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Villa fan |
Lynette Ranson |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Blackpool fan |
Phil Trow |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
4 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham fan |
Russell Goldman |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Spurs are set to end the season with a win.
Home: 28; Draw: 5; Away: 1. TBA 2
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear your views.
