Tottenham 3 Swansea 2 - Full Time

Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane
Date: Wednesday, 4 March

KO 19:45


MATCH PREVIEW

It is 85 years since Swansea last earned a league point at White Hart Lane, but they may fancy their chances against a faltering Tottenham side.

Defeat in Sunday's League Cup final was Spurs' second cup defeat in four days, and leaves a top-four spot as their only remaining target.

However, with so many of their rivals winning regularly that could be difficult - and it should not be overlooked that a Swansea victory would leave them just a point behind Tottenham.

A top-six finish would leave the Swans virtually assured of Europa League qualification, as could seventh depending on who wins the FA Cup.

With 40 points already, the Swans are well placed to better their club record Premier League points tally of 47 - all of which illustrates what a good a job Garry Monk is doing.

For Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, the challenge is how to avoid a post-Wembley hangover.

Sunderland went winless in eight league and cup games after losing last season's League Cup final, while Swansea and Birmingham both stumbled after winning the competition in 2013 and 2011 respectively.

Tottenham play in the only Premier League fixture this weekend, at QPR, and the bare minimum they require from their next two games is four points - there is no margin for error.

There are plenty of personal connections between the sides, with Michel Vorm and Ben Davies both former Swans, and Kyle Naughton and Gylfi Sigurdsson having departed in the opposite direction.

However, another former Spurs man will be in everyone's thoughts before kick-off at White Hart Lane as the late Dave Mackay is remembered.

Most Tottenham fans regard Mackay as their greatest player - better even than Danny Blanchflower and Cliff Jones.

A gifted footballer who was also a great warrior and all-round competitor, he twice came back from a broken leg and was a crucial part of the great Spurs side which won the Double under Bill Nicholson.

While he later achieved great success with Derby, managing them to the league title, real Tottenham aficionados continue to worship Mackay - a true hero, legend and icon of the game.


TEAM NEWS

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino may opt to rotate his squad as Tottenham play their seventh game in 26 days.

Mousa Dembele, Erik Lamela, Federico Fazio, Benjamin Stambouli and Ben Davies will hope to earn recalls.

Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of Saturday's win at Burnley.

He is set to replace Spurs loanee Tom Carroll, who is ineligible to face his parent club.


LINE UPS:

TOTTENHAM: Lloris (c), Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Bentaleb, Mason, Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli, Kane

SUBS: Chiriches, Paulinho, Soldado, Lamela, Vorm, Dembélé, Davies


SWANSEA: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Williams (c), Taylor, Ki Sung-Yueng, Cork, Sigurdsson, Shelvey, Routledge, Gomis

SUBS: Amat, Britton, Emnes, Castro Oliveira, Montero, Rangel, Tremmel


Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/304198
One match ban enabled

Live article brought to you by HITITBET - Sign up now!


COYS!!!