English Premier
2012-03-10 - Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 10 March 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
Everton
I will never apologise for the amount of respect I have for David Moyes, although the lack of respect he gets from the British media is terrible to say the least. How are they linking Brendan Rodgers to the vacant Chelsea managerial role when David Moyes has been the far more consistent manager at this level and is not rewarded in this way?
Moyes continues defying the expectations at Goodison Park as he has led his Everton side to 13th in the Premier League table this season, but with a real chance of finishing in the top half of the table yet again. They have a 5-3-5 record at Goodison Park so far this season, scoring 14 goals and only conceding 13.
As has been the case with Everton over the last few seasons, their form has only improved as the season has gone on. They are unbeaten in their last 8 games in all competitions while moving through to the last 8 of the FA Cup as Moyes looks to add silverware to his time at the club. The Toffees are unbeaten in their last 6 games at home, winning 5 of those including against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
Darren Gibson is injured while Steven Pienaar is ineligible as he is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham Hotspur
There are going to be plenty of people out there that are going to suggest that Tottenham Hotspur's downturn in form recently has coincided with the rumours about Harry Redknapp and his chances of being offered the England managerial role. However, I still think Spurs have been playing decent football, just not getting the luck that they may have had earlier in the season.
Spurs are 3rd in the Premier League table but they are facing some pressure from Arsenal and, to a lesser extent, Chelsea as the Champions League places begin to get decided down the stretch. The team have really shown some toughness by playing well away from White Hart Lane this season, going 6-3-4 while scoring 22 goals and conceding 20.
After back to back League defeats at Arsenal and at home to Manchester United, Spurs may have got a little bit of their confidence back with a FA Cup win over Stevenage which means they are now into the Quarter Finals in that competition. While I do have respect for the way Spurs have played away from home this season, they have begun to find it tougher recently with 1 win in their last 6 away League games. They have picked up just 2 points from their last 4 away games.
Michael Dawson has been ruled out for the next couple of months at least, while Aaron Lennon will also be missing after suffering an injury against Stevenage. There is a 'gentleman's agreement' that Louis Saha does not play in this match, but he has travelled to Liverpool with the squad and I think Harry Redknapp intends to start him against his former club.
Head to Head
Tottenham Hotspur beat Everton 2-0 at home in January, but this is going to be a much different test at a boisterous Goodison Park.
Everton have not lost to Spurs the last 4 times they have been visited by the Londoners and that includes a 2-1 win for Everton last season.
The 3 previous games before last season had all ended in draws.
Prediction
This is a very tough game for Tottenham Hotspur to get back on the horse after a couple of rough falls in their last 2 League games, but I still believe they are playing better than the results would suggest.
The problem for them is they are facing an Everton team that is going to be high on confidence having beaten Manchester City and Chelsea here in recent weeks and one that has won 4 in a row in front of their fans in all competitions.
The one thing we know we should get from Tottenham is that they will go forward in search of goals, and they have proved capable of scoring at some tough venues including at Manchester City when they got 2 goals against a side that has not conceded too many at home all season.
However, they have had issues in defence the last couple of games that cannot be ignored and so it looks like being another game that could see a few goals scored, with both sides likely to find the net. The last two games here at Goodison Park between the teams has seen at least 3 goals combined and I like that chances again here.
Last week we saw a weekend schedule where goals were at a premium, especially on Saturday, but I have a feeling this will be one of a few games that should see goals scored.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Everton 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
