English Premier
2013-04-21 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 21 April 2013 - Kick Off 1:30pm
This game is live on TV
Tottenham Hotspur
Some times you just need something to go your way to help achieve things you work hard for and that is the position Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in on Sunday in the first of the live TV games. They would have watched Steve Sidwell get himself sent off in just twelve minutes for Fulham against Arsenal on Saturday and that leaves Spurs looking up at the top four and not being able to afford to drop too many points going forward.
Thanks to that win for Arsenal at Craven Cottage, Tottenham Hotspur remain 5th in the Premier League but are 3 points behind Chelsea in 4th place and 5 behind Arsenal in 3rd. Perhaps unsurprisingly with the way Spurs approach games, they have won more away games than they have at White Hart Lane this season. Spurs are just 8-5-3 at home this season, scoring 24 goals and conceding 17 in those games.
Since the 3-0 win over Inter Milan in the Europa League, Tottenham have won just 1 of their last 7 games in all competitions and will have no trophy to show for their efforts this season. Tottenham had won 4 in a row at White Hart Lane, but were then beaten by Fulham in the Premier League and have since drawn games with Everton and Basle as they have missed some attacking options.
It might look a lot better for Andre Villas-Boas this week as the likes of Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and, most importantly, Gareth Bale could all be back in the squad.
Manchester City
It was a flat performance by Manchester City on Wednesday night as they just about overcame Wigan Athletic at home, but they should be in a better state ahead of this game. The whole management team keep making it clear that they refuse to give up on their Premier League title and they will be looking to extend Manchester United's wait to reclaim the top prize in English football.
At the start of this weekend, Manchester City trail Manchester United by 13 points, but a defeat coupled with a United win over Aston Villa on Monday would send the title to Old Trafford. City will bring in an 8-5-3 record from their away games this season, scoring 22 goals and conceding 16 in those games.
Manchester City have won 8 of their last 9 games in all competitions, a run that has seen them book their place in the FA Cup Final for the second time in three seasons. They have won 2 of their last 5 away games in the Premier League, although the last of those was the impressive performance in beating Manchester United 1-2 at Old Trafford.
Sergio Aguero and David Silva are expected to miss this game through injury. Maicon and Jack Rodwell are in the squad.
Head to Head
Manchester City came from a goal down to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.
Last season saw City come to White Hart Lane early in the season and record a 1-5 win.
That means Tottenham have failed to win their last 2 home games against City after winning their previous 6 in a row at White Hart Lane against them.
Prediction
Neither team has been producing a lot of goals at home/away respectively, but the return of some key attacking talent for Tottenham Hotspur should make them more dangerous going forward.
However, they have remained vulnerable at times on the defensive side of things and I think Manchester City can take advantage. However, I didn't like how flat they were on Wednesday night and so instead will back at least 3 goals in this game at slightly odds on.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 Manchester City
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95
