19 April 2009: Tottenham - Newcastle

MATCH: TOTTENHAM – NEWCASTLE

TOTTENHAM
Tottenham Hotspur kept alive their hopes of European football thanks to Roman Pavlyuchenko's winner against West Ham United at White Hart Lane.
Pavlyuchenko scored within nine minutes of coming off the bench and his 14th of the season means the race for seventh place in the Barclays Premier League is hotting up.
Such is the tightness of this season, Spurs have been fighting against relegation since Harry Redknapp's arrival in October but now could qualify for the Europa League.
"The reality is we are not out of trouble yet," Redknapp wrote in his programme notes - but they are surely safe now.
The main talking point of the first half was a trio of penalty shouts from the hosts being turned down.

Form WLDWWDWWLW
Home Form WLDDDWDWWW

Team news
J Jenas - Hamstring Injury (1 day)
J Defoe - Ankle/Foot Injury (1 day)

NEWCASTLE
Alan Shearer's Newcastle United side salvaged a precious point at Stoke City thanks to homegrown hero Andy Carroll.
Just when it appeared as if their supporters would be left waiting for their miracle to materialise from Tyneside legend Shearer, so the manager's fellow Geordie Carroll popped up to answer their prayers.
However, Newcastle should have been dead and buried by the time the Gateshead-born 20-year-old headed an 81st-minute equaliser, cancelling out a first-half opener from Newcastle old boy Abdoulaye Faye.
The fact that the match was not beyond reach owed much to Stoke's failure to take the gilt-edged chances that came their way, and occasional right-time, right-place defending when it mattered most.
But make no mistake, this first point of Shearer's reign from his two matches in charge does not mask the deficiencies that are still rife within a team that remain in the bottom three.

Form: LDWDLLDLLD
Away Form DDWLLLWLDD

Team news:
O Martins - Groin Strain (1 day)
J Enrique - Knee Injury (1 day)
P Lovenkrands - Back Injury (1 day)
S Taylor - Ankle/Foot Injury (1 day)
M Viduka - Achilles Tendinopathy (1 day)
J Barton - Metatarsal Fracture (1 week)
T Kadar - Broken Leg (2 Months)
I Gonzalez - Achilles Tendinopathy (no date)

HEAD TO HEAD
30/03/2008 Tottenham 1-4 Newcastle
14/01/2007 Tottenham 2-3 Newcastle

VERDICT
Despite the good record of Newcastle against Tottenham I can see only a Tottenham victory here, Newcastle are playing bad even if thy have top-class player in the team. Tottenham is on good run and can reach a place for the Uefa cup. If we put also the home factor... no chances for Newcastle to win here.