West Brom Look To Upset Odds Against Spurs

West Bromwich Albion travel to White Hart Lane tomorrow (21st September) as one of four sides yet to register a win in their first fixtures of the 2014-15 Premier League campaign. The West Midlands team face Mauricio Pochettino`s Tottenham, low on confidence after a goalless draw against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League sees them on their own three match winless run in all competitions. Unlike bottom club Baggies, however, Spurs have managed to retain a respectable league position. The North London side sit seventh despite their lack of good fortune. A nil-nil deadlock in Serbia followed last weekend`s two all draw at Sunderland`s Stadium of Light, in which an 82nd minute Harry Kane own goal saw the Black Cats rescue a point after strikes from Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen put Pochettino`s team ahead. Twenty-five-year-old Chadli`s second minute effort is the Belgian`s third goal in the Premier League, a tally two greater than the single goal he recorded in all of the 24 games he played for Spurs during the 2013-14 season. Despite this, Tottenham`s last win in the League came just under a month ago (24th August) when the winger grabbed a brace against Harry Redknapp`s Queens Park Rangers.

It`s a similar state of affairs for West Brom who last picked up a point in the same weekend having managed to keep Southampton at bay in a goalless draw. Since then, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Garry Monk`s high flying Swansea and last weekend`s 2-0 home loss against Everton has seen new boss Alan Irvine put under pressure to not only improve results but improve the performances of his horribly limp players.

Such performances now see Albion as the massive 13/2 (SpreadEx) outsiders for tomorrow`s encounter, a price to make the most pessimistic punters look for positives in the bottom placed side. Spurs, then, line-up as the 8/15 (Numerous) sure-fire favourites with a draw at 18/5 (boylesports).

Irvine will take confidence from knowing that he has a fully fit squad for the first time in his three month tenure. A summer signing from Manchester City, Joleon Lescott is expected to make his competitive debut in West Brom`s famous stripes after having picked up both knee and calf injuries during the run up to the start of the season. The England international was a free transfer from the Champions after seeing his six year spell at the club come to an abrupt end. Porto loan signing Silvestre Varela is also set to play his first game for Albion after undergoing two weeks of pre-season-style training after arriving at the Hawthorns unfit.

Youssouf Mulumbu is hoping for a return to the starting line-up after finally shaking off a hamstring injury. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since playing a part in Congo`s 2-0 African Cup of Nations qualification defeat against Cameroon. The midfielder left the field in the 26th minute after pulling up suddenly. Victor Anichebe is also available for selection having successfully recovered from a hernia. The home side may well be without winger Andros Townsend who picked up a dead leg in Spurs` Europa League clash in Belgrade. A late scan will assess the seriousness of the injury though may be out as a precaution.

Despite this set-back, Pochettino`s wholesale changes to his squad for the mid-week fixture means that many more of his key players re-enter the line-up rested and refreshed. Of those who missed Tuesday`s match, Spurs` fans will be most happy to see top scorers Chadli and Eric Dier return. The former is 11/4 (888sport) to add a fourth goal to his tally, whilst Dier is 7/1 (Coral, paddy Power) to score at any time.

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20/09/2014     © Frixo 2026