Match Preview: Woolwich vs Spurs (my prediction, team news, lineups & a lot more)

Match Preview: Woolwich vs Spurs (my prediction, team news, lineups & a lot more)

We are back to normality after we had to endear Southgate's puzzling play games. Yes, the Premier League returns following the international break with a London derby on Saturday lunchtime, the first game back.

Whoever wins this game – providing it isn't a draw – will sit on top of the League… at least until City pop their heads above the parapet and try to trip things up.

As for City, who play on Sunday, it is a battle between the rich part of Manchester and the cock-up queens in the poorer part of that city; yes, City take on United (what is united about them is another question).

Match preview

Woolwich Constipators

Woolwich ensured they would head into the international break one point clear of City and us in first place when they beat Brentford 3-0.

Woolwich have also overcome their last six Premier League matches; they have conceded at least one goal in all of them, but our attacking line have more than one incentive to silence the home crowd.

Spurs

Conte's courageous move paid dividends against Leicester City when he dropped Son and put him on the substitutes bench; from there he ended his profligate streak in some style when he was brought on.

The magnificent Son was presented to the crowd in the 59th minute, and by the 86th minute, he had shown his magic (what he is capable of); his 13-minute hat-trick accompanied goals from Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Rodrigo Bentancur in a 6-2 destruction of the Foxes. And Brendan Rogers still hasn't been sacked yet… no doubt that will come soon if he suffers any more disasters. On Monday, he faces fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest… if they should fail… but that isn't our problem...

Conte is such a wit, isn't he? He jested that Son can expect to be benched every week if he delivers similar super-sub performances in the future. All that contributed to us staying close to the Woolwich pretenders, so thanks, Son, for coming back in style… not that we would have lost if he hadn't got his hat-trick. But goals do make a difference in the League.

Yes, we bounced back against Sporting Lisbon in picture-perfect fashion when we took on Leicester – potential relegation fodder - Titty, however,  only two of our last seven matches away from home have ended in victory, and the swamp heap of the Emirates is not, so far, our happiest hunting grounds. But I sense a change in the air since Conte descended upon us.

A 3-1 Woolwich mug swamp triumph in this fixture last season means that we have failed to win any of our previous 11 North London derbies away from home in the League; nevertheless, we did beat them 3-0 in May to get into the Champions League (their spectacular self-destruction meant they had to be content with second best: Europa league, 2^nd tier). Remember, Conte's stars are not the same wobblies that Nuno Espirito Santo led to our downfall at the Mug swamp stadium, also known as the Emirates, last term.

Woolwich Premier League form:

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Woolwich form (all competitions):

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Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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Team News

Woolwich mug swampers

Woolwich are sure to be without Mohamed Elneny & Cedric Soares; there is hope that Kieran Tierney, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Thomas Partey will all shake off their physical problems.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is also set to feature, while Martin Odegaard battled back from a knock.

Emile Smith Rowe is in doubt due to his groin problem, but there may be a place in the squad for Reiss Nelson as he aims to make his first competitive appearance of the year following an injury.

Arteta is aiming to become only the third manager in Woolwich's history to win their first three league games against us at home, following in the footsteps of George Morrell and Terry Neill.

Spurs

We have concerns with Hugo Lloris, who withdrew from France duty with a thigh injury, and it is currently unclear if he will be fit to return this weekend. Lloris's issue was small, but Fraser Forster is on standby.

Conte will also hope to have Ben Davies (knee) and Lucas Moura (tendon) fit and available here.

Hopefully, I am wrong, but with Son returning to the first XI, Richarlison's run in the team could end. Why can't we play both together?

Ivan Perisic has been given the all-clear after being forced off for Croatia in the international break due to a rough challenge from teammate Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Woolwich's possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Our possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son

Prediction 1-2

I can't see a lot of goals, however, I am confident we can get one over the mug-swampers. I am going for a 1-2 win.

Woolwich's problem is failing to keep clean sheets at home, and our consistent run of scoring against the Gooners augurs well for us.

Early kick-offs are buggers… I have to get up at 7 for Mel to pick me up at 7.30. Not from Janette's house, but mine, this time around. At least I will be home quicker (because of the early kick-off).

Up the Spurs!

Glenn

COYS!