Prediction: Tottenham vs Chelsea

21st December 2011

Tottenham will be looking to extend their winning run at White Hart Lane to seven Premier League games as well as gain the upper hand over their rivals for the top 4 finish when they host Chelsea on Thursday evening, with the London Blues aiming to end the dreadful run of six years without a win at the Lane.

Even before they became serious top 4 contenders, Tottenham would easily win games against the bottom-table sides, but they always lacked some consistency and the character to beat the best sides in the league. When Spurs suffered heavy defeats in their opening games against Manchester United and Manchester City, many people believed that nothing has changed at the Lane, but Spurs proved the doubters wrong by winning 10 from next 12 Premier League games, beating the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal at home in the process. Harry Redknapp’s side didn’t let the unlucky defeat to Stoke get to them, so they beat Sunderland at the weekend to extend their winning run at home to six games, and are now aiming to make it seven in a row. Aaron Lennon will not be able to help his side after picking up a hamstring injury, but Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe should be fit to feature. Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone remain long-term casualties.

While Tottenham have been on the constant uptrend over the last few years, their next opponents have been struggling to live up to the billing ever since Jose Mourinho left Stamford Bridge for the greener pastures of Santiago Bernabeu. While Andre Villas-Boas managed to add some fresh blood in the summer, with Juan Manuel Mata, Daniel Sturridge and Oriol Romeu becoming important players in the team, he could do nothing to revive Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, or to help Fernando Torres finally return to his best. In all fairness, Chelsea were brilliant in some games, especially in home wins over Valencia and Manchester City, but taking into account that they already lost three away games this season as well as their six-year winless run at White Hart Lane, I am not too sure that the Blues can survive the trip to North London. John Terry is a major doubt after picking up an Achilles injury in training, but Ramires and David Luiz should be fit to play.

Conclusion

Tottenham have been absolutely brilliant this season and Spurs will fancy their chances against Chelsea after winning last six games at the Lane. The Blues are low on confidence after the dismal display against relegation strugglers Wigan, so I am tempted to back the hosts here.

Verdict: Tottenham Draw No Bet

Best Odds: 17/20

Bookmaker: Victor Chandler