West Brom v Spurs: Can Spurs close gap on Chelsea to a point?
Games between West Brom and Spurs always tend to be hard-fought affairs with three of the past five meetings ending in stalemates. However, Spurs hold the upper hand. They have won the other two clashes, haven't lost at the Hawthorns since 2008 and know that a win today will see them close the gap on Chelsea in third place to just a point.
The Baggies started the season like a house on fire but in recent weeks that raging inferno has burnt itself out. Steve Clarke's men have won just two of their past 10 league outings and have dropped to ninth in the table. At the start of the season most Baggies would have taken that at this stage, but they will be bitterly disappointed knowing that wins over Reading and Villa would have seen them level on points with Arsenal in the race for Champions League football.
Spurs are in the driving seat for fourth spot, but they will be eager to finish as high up as possible after missing out on the Champions League this season thanks to Chelsea's heroic success in Munich in May.
However, although Spurs have only tasted defeat once in their past 10 league outings, they have dropped crucial points by drawing with QPR, Man United and Norwich. They need to get back to winning ways.
West Brom are always dangerous at home and play some great football. Lukaku will give the Spurs defence a real headache with his pace and power, but can the Baggies stop Bale and Lennon from running the show in midfield?
West Brom v Spurs; Kick Off 1.30pm February 3 2013
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Apoorva Ankur |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Stoke City |
Peter Holland |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
1 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Too close to call.
Home: 7; Draw: 14; Away: 11. TBA 2.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
