- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham v Wolves
Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 12 December Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC London DAB, DSAT & Online BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Here)
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Wolves look for much-needed win
Tottenham v Wolves
Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 12 December Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC London DAB, DSAT & Online BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
For more details on coverage please check out Geez's Live Media Thread Here)
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Wolves look for much-needed win
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Tottenham host Wolves looking to bounce back from their disappointment at Everton last weekend.
Harry Redknapp's side were two goals up in the clash at Goodison Park before they threw away the lead in the second half to draw 2-2.
To compound their misery, Jermain Defoe spurned a chance to snatch the points by missing a penalty in stoppage time.
Since their 9-1 demolition of Wigan, Spurs have gone three games without a win.
But they will fancy their chances of getting back on track and holding onto their fourth place standing when Mick McCarthy's side pay a visit.
Tottenham are looking to break into the Champions League positions this season and can ill-afford to drop points at home to the strugglers.
Wolves face a tricky task when travelling down to London but will be full of confidence after a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Bolton.
Goals from Jody Craddock - his fourth of the season - and Nenad Milijas gave Mick McCarthy's side a priceless win that lifted them above their rivals.
They still remain in the bottom three, however, and will look to put daylight between themselves and bottom club Portsmouth going into the crucial Christmas period.
Wanderers have taken just five points from their travels this season, the last coming in a 2-2 draw with Stoke.
Back-to-back wins for the Midlands club look unlikely against their fourth-placed opponents.
Spurs news
Ledley King remains a doubt for the home side with a hamstring injury and fellow defender Jonathan Woodgate (groin) is rated as doubtful.
Midfielder Luka Modric could be in line to make a long-awaited return after completing 70 minutes in a friendly match against Grays Athletic during the week.
The Croatian fractured his fibula in August in a 2-1 win over Birmingham and was watched by Redknapp as he made his recovery.
Wilson Palacios bruised his ribs in the Everton clash following a challenge from Tony Hibbert, but the Honduran should be fit enough to feature.
Wolves news
Wolves boss McCarthy was dealt a blow as it emerged striker Andy Keogh would be out for three months.
The 23-year-old picked up an ankle injury in training and is to have surgery on the problem, keeping him out till February.
He could be replaced in the squad by returning front man Chris Iwelumo, who has recovered from a foot problem sustained in the Stoke match.
Ronald Zubar will miss out again though having already sat out three matches with a thigh strain.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could continue in attack, preferred to Kevin Doyle as the lone striker.
That means the same team that beat Bolton could take to the field again at White Hart Lane.
PREDICTIONS
skysports.com prediction: Tottenham 3 Wolves 0
SKYBET odds: Tottenham 3/10, Draw 4/1, Wolves 10/1
One to Watch: Niko Kranjcar
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BBC Preview
Tottenham's Luka Modric could return among the substitutes after a three-month lay-off. He played 70 minutes of a midweek friendly with Grays Athletic.
Ledley King (knee) limped off in the same game, but Wilson Palacios may play despite bruising ribs against Everton.
Wolves will be without striker Andy Keogh for up to 12 weeks after he damaged ankle ligaments in training.
Chris Iwelumo's return after six weeks off with a metatarsal problem is therefore timely for the visitors.
Tottenham
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Giovani & Modric (both fitness), Palacios (ribs)
Injured: Cudicini (pelvis and wrists), King (knee), Woodgate (groin)
Wolves
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Jones (knee)
Injured: Keogh & Kightly (both ankle), Murray (knee), Zubar (thigh)
MATCH PREVIEW
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Harry Redknapp and Mick McCarthy have been in charge of well over 1500 matches between them, yet remarkably this will be the first time they have sat in opposing dugouts..
They suffered contrasting fortunes last weekend. McCarthy was a relieved man after his struggling Wolves side picked up three vital points against Bolton, while Redknapp was left fuming as his Champions League hopefuls paid the penalty at Goodison Park.
Despite this, Wolves will have to upset the form book massively if they are to claim anything from a ground that has been far from kind to them over the years. They have not won at White Hart Lane since 1973, and taken all the points on just four occasions since their first visit way back in 1908.
Wolves' nightmare before Christmas sees them go from White Hart Lane to Old Trafford in the space of four days, with Liverpool and Manchester City lying in wait before the year is out.
The most famous fixture between these two clubs remains the inaugural UEFA Cup final in May 1972, when Alan Mullery's goal in a
1-1 draw at White Hart Lane proved enough to give Bill Nicholson's Tottenham a 3-2 aggregate victory and their second European trophy in nine years.
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MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Wolves have won only four times in 44 visits to White Hart Lane (38 of them league matches).
• Tottenham have won their last six league matches against Wolves. Their only defeat in their last 10 league meetings was 1-0 at Molineux in the old Division One in April 1981.
Tottenham
• Harry Redknapp's side have won their last three home games in all competitions, scoring 13 in the process.
• Spurs have won 799 all-time top flight matches at home.
• If selected, Robbie Keane will be playing against the club where he started his career. The Irishman scored 24 goals in 74 league games between 1997-99 while at Wolves.
• Keane has since scored four goals in two games for Spurs against Wolves.
Wolves
• Wolves are looking for successive top-flight wins for the first time in 26 years, since December 1983.
• Wolves have secured only 12 points from a possible 78 away from home in their Premier League history, August's 1-0 victory at Wigan being their sole win.
• The Midlands club have not won a top-flight game in the capital since a 3-2 win at Arsenal in September 1979.
• Mick McCarthy's men have kept only one clean sheet so far this season, only Bolton have fewer.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
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Tottenham
Defoe: 13 goals (12 league); Keane: 8 goals (6 league)
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Wolves
Craddock: 4 goals (4 league); Doyle: 3 goals (3 league)
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistant referees: Andy Garratt & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Russell Booth
MOST RECENT MEETING
Wolves 0-2 Tottenham (15 May 2004)
Tottenham scorers: Keane 34, Defoe 57
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Spurs Vs Wolves