Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United Preview

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United

Newcastle United FCTottenham Hotspur FCCompetition: League Cup
Date: 17 December 2014
Kick-off: 19:45
Venue: White Hart Lane (London)



Match Officials
Referee: A. Marriner
Assistants: S. Ledger & G. Beswick
Fourth official: S. Attwell

While we can look at recent form for the game between the two sides this is the League Cup, so certainly from Spurs point of view it will be the second team playing, therefore history is perhaps not so relevant.

But for those recent form history buffs amongst you Tottenham have lost the last two at White Hart Lane by a single goal. Below is the head-to-head table

Matches

Sun26/10/14PRLTottenham Hotspur1 - 2Newcastle United

Wed12/02/14PRLNewcastle United0 - 4Tottenham Hotspur

Sun10/11/13PRLTottenham Hotspur0 - 1Newcastle United

Sat09/02/13PRLTottenham Hotspur2 - 1Newcastle United

Sat18/08/12PRLNewcastle United2 - 1Tottenham Hotspur

Sat11/02/12PRLTottenham Hotspur5 - 0Newcastle United
Looking at the games played between the two at White Hart Lane, Tottenham, as you would expect, have the edge. Equating the results to points Spurs would have 116 to Newcastle's 68.

Matches Played: 64
Wins: 36
Draws: 8
Losses: 20
Goals For: 124
Goals Against: 73

Looking specifically at the League Cup, the two tables below show each sides top scorer and who have provided any assists. Tottenham have played 2 home games and Newcastle 3 away games in this seasons competition.

TOPSCORERS

Tottenham HotspurGPen
20
10
10
10
Newcastle UnitedGPen
21
10
10
10







ASSISTS









In total Tottenham have scored 5 goals and conceded 1, Newcastle have scored 6 goals and conceded 2, Spurs have kept 1 clean sheet, Newcastle 2 clean sheets.

The average time we have scored our first goal is 63 minutes and conceded on average in the 61st minute. Newcastle have scored their first goal on average after 21 minutes and conceded after 25 minutes. Neither side has failed to score in a game and both sides biggest victory was 2-0. Tottenham have yet to score in the first half.

For younger readers who may not be aware of Newcastle's history they are a club who have been in the doldrums for a few years but have trophies to their name.

TrophiesTottenham HotspurNewcastle United
Premier League24
Championship24
UEFA Europa League20
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup10
FA Cup86
League Cup40
Community Shield71


Without knowing the starting elevens it's very hard to predict a result, Tottenham have been unconvincing with their second eleven displays getting outplayed on numerous occasions, including against Nottingham Forest in this competition.

That game turned around when Ryan Mason was introduced and proceeded to pass quicker in midfield than we had been doing before. It was the usual sideways do nothing rubbish until Mason took the game by the scruff of the neck, not only with his passing but with a goal. From then Spurs got a couple more and the scoreline in the end flattered us. Mason hasn't looked back and been a regular ever since.

Harry Kane was a second eleven player banging in the goals whenever he had a chance, be it in Europe or the League Cup. He has for forced himself into the Premier League side as well so clearly if you produce the goods in these games Pochettino promotes you.

You have to wonder then why others have not taken the same chances. Ben Davies has taken his time to find his feet at Spurs after his summer move from Swansea and got his chance due to an injury to Danny Rose. Now it is Rose who has to produce the goods in games like this

A few players at Tottenham need to come out and start showing the right attitude, these games provide the opportunity, sulking doesn't push you nearer a first team lace, nor does simply doing what you have always done. Improvement is the key to a first team place, if the players show improvement the team will show improvement and it needs to.

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