English Premier
2013-05-19 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Sunderland FC
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : English Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane, London
Sunday 19th May 2013 – Kickoff time 16:00
Match Preview :
Tottenham Hotspur must beat Sunderland if they are to have any chance of playing in the UEFA Champions League at the expense of Arsenal.
Tottenham has so far managed to stay unbeaten in their last seven matches and no doubt that has contributed to their cause of a top four finish, and once again it will come down to a final day contest with Arsenal as to who gets the last and final Champions League spot.
As it stands now, If Arsenal fail to win at Newcastle United, then a Tottenham win over Sunderland will clinch a place in the Champions League qualifiers for Andre Villas-Boas' side.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have nothing to play for and that could work in Spurs' favour, but Villas-Boas has already seen his team suffer surprise home defeats by Wigan and Fulham so they know they cannot take anything for granted here.
No doubt the man to watch for Tottenham will be Gareth Bale who will be instrumental if Tottenham is to get a win here. Tottenham's win against Stoke City last weekend did however showed that they do not entirely depend on the Welsh wizard.
It has to be said that the 2-1 win at the Britannia Stadium was the first time that Tottenham had won in the league without a goal from Bale since New Year's Day.
Sunderland head to London assured of Premier League football next season after Wigan's defeat at Arsenal in midweek confirmed the last remaining relegation spot going to Wigan.
Paolo Di Canio has collected eight points from six games since replacing Martin O'Neill and will want to avoid defeat in his final match of the season. But having already achieved his goal of keeping Sunderland up, it looks likely that they will end the season in 17th place.
Team News :
Tottenham Team News :
Defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has recovered from a knee injury and is available for selection in this match. The Cameroon international sat out last weekend's win at Stoke, but has trained with the team this week and could come back into his usual left-back slot.
The likes of long-term absentees Sandro (knee), Younes Kaboul (thigh) and William Gallas (calf) are out of this match.
Sunderland Team News :
Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio will need to find a replacement for loan signing Danny Rose. The England Under-21 international left-back is ineligible to play against his parent club and midfielder Jack Colback seems the most likely man to replace him.
Striker Stephane Sessegnon completes his three-match ban while midfielder Craig Gardner sits out the second game of his enforced lay-off. Meanwhile, Connor Wickham is available after returning as a substitute against Southampton following a month out with a calf injury.
Prediction:
Go for Sunderland to keep things close and accept the +1 3/4 ball start here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham 2-1 Sunderland
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Go for Sunderland and accept the 1 3/4 ball start here.
