Match Preview: Spurs v Leeds United (the Conte Revolution!)

Match Preview: Spurs v Leeds United (the Conte Revolution!)

Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. KO 4.30

Two good games against Vitesse and Everton – Conte had only a couple of days to prepare – and now we will hopefully see a third victory under his command and start to rise up the table.

We started this season on a high, but that feeling suddenly sunk until depression started setting in (doom and gloom under Nuno)… Suddenly it all changed, and with the sacking of Nuno and the appointment of Conte, our optimism kicked back into gear, and the feel-good factor has engaged itself. Granted, we don't expect glory from the getgo, as we've got to get rid of a lot of deadwood and bring in new faces, but at least the future looks a lot brighter now.

So, Antonio Conte's era begins in earnest at his new club, his first Premier League game at our stadium, as we take on Leeds United this Sunday.

As I stated, Conte took charge of one league game, the 0-0 draw with Everton, but then the international break set in, which gave him more of a chance to work with his new squad, which had looked bereft of confidence before his arrival.

The good news for Conte is that he is lifted by the excellent form of Harry Kane in his two England matches where he scored 9 goals. Granted, against weak teams, but 9 nevertheless. It all counts when trying to break records, and Kane has equalised Linkers and is only 5 off Rooney's.  Conte will hope that Kane builds himself off the back of his two international performances against Leeds United. Leeds are currently 15^th in the Premier League after a poor start.

Kane, himself, will hope to build off of the back of two free-scoring performances against Leeds, who are fifteenth in the Premier League after a mixed start to the season. However, Leeds have won only two games but are unbeaten in their last three matches.

Team news

Tottenham

We have suffered a double injury blow during the international break, with news of a hamstring injury sustained by Cristian Romero following Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's absence from Denmark's fixture against Scotland. Romero will be assessed but is considered a significant doubt. As for Hojbjerg, he will cause real issues for us, as we are without the suspended Oliver Skipp.

Ryan Sessegnon is back in training and could soon replenish Tottenham's left-wing-back options, while Bryan Gil has also returned.

Thoughts and prediction

I am sure that under Conte, the team will be looking to show everybody that they are a new and reformed team and will get stuck in. We can't afford to cede any more ground to our top-four rivals if we are serious about Champions League qualification this season. On the other hand, Leeds will sense our problems (injuries) and come out fighting and will hope to sneak in a winning goal. However, I am going for a 4-1 win with Harry getting a hattrick. Rampant spurs hopefully will be on show this Sunday.

Prediction 4-1

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

We have won our last four home league meetings with Leeds.

This is our 100th meeting in all competitions, with us ahead by 37 wins to Leeds' 33.

Tottenham Hotspur

We could equal our club record of four league games without a goal for the first time since 2006.

We have managed just nine goals in the league in 2021-22 - only bottom side Norwich have scored fewer.

At the same stage last season, Son had scored 10 league goals, and Harry Kane had eight.

This season, Kane has scored just once in 10 Premier League appearances. He has gone five consecutive games in all competitions without a goal for the first time since 2016.

We have benefitted from four own goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League side.

Leeds United

Leeds have gone three league games without defeat for the first time this season (W1, D2).

So far, Marcelo Bielsa's side has not kept a clean sheet in any of their five top-flight away matches.

Leeds have drawn five Premier League matches in 2021-22, as many as they did in the whole of last season.

Raphinha has scored 45% of Leeds' goals in the Premier League this season (five of 11), opening the scoring in a joint-high four matches.

That is it, folks. I will be leaving at 10.30 on Sunday and travelling down with Mel. It should be a good game with a good atmosphere.

Take care, Glenn

COYS!