 | #7. Birmingham City versus Tottenham HotspurLocation: St. Andrews Stadium (Birmingham)Date: Saturday, December 4 Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Records (W-D-L, +/-, Place): Brum, 3-8-4, -2, 14th Spurs, 7-4-4, +3, 5th |  |
English Premier League Preview, Birmingham Vs. Tottenham: Spurs Try To Keep Pace
With the way Tottenham Hotspur has shined in the UEFA Champions League, where they have advanced to the knockout stages, and the attention several players have gained this season, you would expect them to be right up by the top of the Premier League table. Well, Spurs needed consecutive wins over Arsenal and Liverpool just to get up to fifth place because of what can charitably be described as uneven league play. Even so, Tottenham is now within one point of fourth place Manchester City and six points behind league-leading Manchester United.
If Spurs are going to make their way into the top four and secure a spot in the Champions League, they will have to find a way to get points from teams down in the table. Already this season Spurs have been beaten by West Ham and Wigan, while managing just one point at home versus West Brom. While Tottenham has done well to come up with victories over Inter Milan, Arsenal and Liverpool that many will remember for years, any hopes of challenging the top of the table rest on their ability to win the matches they should win. St. Andrews isn’t an easy place to come away with three points, but the top teams figure out a way to win matches like this.
Tottenham will have to win the match with an ever-growing list of injured players though. A total of 11 first-team players are out or in doubt for the match at St. Andrews. The most notable of the injuried is Rafael van der Vaart, who will be out a month due to a hamstring tear, but the most worrisome on the injured might by Younes Kaboul. The frenchman had been playing well in a makeshift central defense partnership with William Gallas in recent weeks, but that run of form will be halted by Kaboul's injured hip.
Birmingham is much lower in the table than they would like, sitting in 14th with just three wins on the season. They got a boost on Wednesday when they defeated Aston Villa in Carling Cup action and will look to carry that momentum into their clash with Tottenham. They will be doing so in a beat up stadium after an unruly crowd ripped out seats following the team's win over Villa and invaded the pitch. Despite being down on the table, Birmingham have been in a good run of form. Away draws with Fulham and Manchester City with a home win over Chelsea sandwiched in preceded the Blues' win versus Villa and have the team playing with confidence.
Possible Lineup, Birmingham (4-4-2): Foster / Ridgewell, Dann, Johnson, Carr / Fahey, Bowyer, Ferguson, Larsson / Zigic, Jerome.
Possible Lineup, Tottenham (4-4-2): Gomes / Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, Gallas, Hutton / Bale, Modric, Palacios, Lennon / Crouch, Defoe.
Key Matchup: Midfield vs. midfield. Birmingham plays in a 4-4-2 and there isn't a ton of movement going on there. It's rather static and they count on the four they have in the midfield being very tidy, but two of their best midfielders, Alexander Hleb and Craig Gardner, will not play due to injury. That is going to put a lot of strain on the Blues and theoretically, Spurs will be able to knock the ball around and maintain possession. Whether they can show patience with that possession and make Birmingham chase should pay off immediately, but especially later in the match when Birmingham's midfield tires.
Battle Within The Battle: Who can win the 90th minute? In the last four matches and five of the last six matches between Tottenham and Birmingham there has been a 90th minute goal. If that trend continues, who will have the spry legs and wherewithal to capitalize? Neither Spurs nor the Blues have done a very good job putting opposing teams away in league so odds are this match is close late and a 90th minute goal changes who comes away with what points.
Pick: Tottenham should win in the midfield and while they are not the sexiest of strikers, the Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe partnership usually performs well. Signs point to Spurs coming away winners at St. Andrews, but they aren't the most reliable team and the Blues are on the uptick. As has been the case all season, expect Tottenham to give up the opener, but they will get one back. Despite late pressure, Tottenham won't be able to crack the Birmingham defense and the two clubs split the points, 1-1.
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