English Premier
2011-12-03 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Bolton Wanderers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 3 December 2011 - Kick Off 3pm
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur come into this weekends game knowing they can move into 2nd place before Manchester United play and they have to be considered one of the most in-form teams in the League. Since the opening 2 games of the season, Spurs have been on a roll that many will expect to continue.
The team are 3rd in the table but managed to close the gap to the top two teams with an impressive win at West Brom last week. Spurs have been solid at White Hart Lane since their 1-5 defeat to Manchester City, and they have compiled a 4-0-1 record, scoring 12 goals and conceding 7.
Spurs have only lost 2 of their last 16 games in all competitions, but both of those came in the Europa League, a competition that Harry Redknapp has not exactly put to the top of his priority list this year. The form in the Premier League has been fantastic as they have now won 9 of their last 10 games, the only exception being a 2-2 draw at Newcastle. Spurs have won their last 4 home games, scoring at least 2 goals in each.
Rafael Van der Vaart has been passed fit following a hamstring issue and there are no new injury worries for Tottenham. Tom Huddlestone and Niko Kranjcar remain sidelined.
Bolton Wanderers
While Tottenham have been flying, Bolton Wanderers have really struggled this season to put together performances and that has seen them have an almost permanent residence in the bottom 3 for much of the season so far. Owen Coyle needs to find a consistent source of goals in his side if Bolton want to escape the trapdoor this year.
The Trotters are down in 18th place in the Premier League, 2 points behind 17th placed Wolves, after a disappointing home defeat to Everton last week. That means they have now lost 10 of their 13 League games, although Bolton have been more successful away from home. They are 2-0-4 on their travels this year, scoring 10 goals but conceding 12, while their overall 31 goals conceded is the worst in the League.
A 5-0 home win over Stoke at the beginning of the month looked to be the turning of the corner for this side, but subsequent consecutive defeats since the international break leaves Bolton in a tough spot. The team have conceded at least 2 goals in 5 of their last 6 games, while they have lost 3 consecutive away games in all competitions.
There are so many injury and suspension issues in the Bolton camp coming into the busy Christmas period. David N'Gog and Dedryck Boyata are both available again, but Nigel Reo-Coker and David Wheater both miss out.
Head to Head
Tottenham Hotspur have won their last 4 home games against Bolton Wanderers in all competitions, although the last two were tight affairs decided by one goal.
Bolton have not won at White Hart Lane in their last 7 visits.
Prediction
Tottenham are in just some fabulous form at the moment and the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor has provided them with a striker that is capable of scoring goals as well as being big enough to lead the line and to allow the smaller, creative players, like Modric and Van der Vaart to play off him.
The confidence must be sky-high in this part of North London as they have been in fantastic form and you have to think they will take advantage of defensive issues Bolton have been having.
Bolton will struggle to contain this attack in my opinion and I find it hard to imagine them scoring enough goals to keep up and so I am going to back Spurs to keep their fine run going with a win covering the Asian Handicap.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Bolton Wanderers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Tottenham Hotspur -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.85
