MATCH PREVIEW - SPURS
All the important match facts and stats ahead of #CARTOT
Tottenham Hotspur v Cardiff City
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Date: 22nd September 2013, KO 4pm
Match-tag:#CARTOT (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER
The Bluebirds’ welcome Tottenham Hotspur to Cardiff City Stadium for the first time as City look to extend a four match unbeaten run in all competitions.
MATCH FACTS
- Three of Tottenham’s four goals this season have come in the 15 minute spell after half-time.
- Cardiff City are one of five Barclays Premier League sides yet to score a first half goal this season.
- No player has assisted more Premier League goals than Cardiff’s Don Cowie this season (2).
- Tottenham won all six of their Premier League games against newly-promoted sides in 2012-13.
KEY PLAYER – Roberto Soldado
Signed from La Liga outfit Valencia in the summer, Roberto Soldado has made an instant transition to life in the Premier League and England, scoring four goals in all competitions for Spurs so far.
Two penalties in the Lilywhites’ opening two fixtures brought home six points for Andre Villas Boas’ side, vital goals that see Spurs go into this weekend’s round of football just one point off the top of the table and local rivals Arsenal.
IN-FORM PLAYER- Gylfi Sigurdsson
Two-goals from Icelandic International and former Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson were enough to see of Norwich City at White Hart Lane last weekend. Despite the influx of players coming through the doors at the Lane during the summer, Sigurdsson’s form has more than staked his claim to keep hold of his regular starting spot.
RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):
Tottenham Hotspur:WWWLWW
Last time out - Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Tromso – Thursday, 19th September, UEFA Europa League.
Two first-half goals from Jermain Defoe and a late screamer from recent addition Christian Eriksen saw Spurs claim a first three points of their UEFA Europa League campaign over Norwegian outfit Tromso at White Hart Lane.
Defoe’s double saw him move within two goals of Martin Chivers’ Tottenham European scoring record as Andre Villas Boas also gave a first start to record signing Erik Lamela.
Team - Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Rose, Naughton, Kaboul, Dawson, Dembélé, Sigurdsson, Sandro, Holtby, Lamela, Defoe, Paulinho (sub), Eriksen (sub), Vertonghen (sub). Subs not used: Friedel, Kane, Soldado, Townsend.
LWWDD Cardiff City:
Last time out – Hull City 1-1 Cardiff City- Saturday, 14th September, Barclays Premier League
A clinical finish from Peter Whittingham to round off an excellent flowing Cardiff City move earned City a share of the spoils and a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium. Curtis Davies had given the home side an advantage going into the break, but in a game of few chances Whittingham’s strike was enough to see the Bluebirds’ claim a first Premier League point on the road.
Team: Cardiff City: Lewis; Taylor, Caulker (C), Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell (Gestede 65), Kim (Maynard 45), Gunnarsson, Cowie (Mutch 90), Theophile-Catherine. Subs not used: Moore; Hudson, Odemwingie, Gestede, Noone, Mutch.
LAST MEETING:
2006-07 FA Cup third round replay, White Hart Lane, Wednesday 17th January 2013 – Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Cardiff City
First-half goals from Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane and Steed Malbranque put this FA Cup replay beyond doubt before half-time as the home side showed their Premier League muscle over then Championship Cardiff City; Jermain Defoe added a fourth with less than ten minutes to go to complete a resound victory for Tottenham on the night.
Cardiff line-up: Alexander, Purse, Loovens, McNaughton, Gilbert, Scimeca, Flood (Cooper 56), McPhail, Ledley, Chopra (Ferretti 75), Thompson. Subs not used: Forde, Johnson, Campbell.
REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg
Durham-born Mark Clattenburg has enjoyed a successful career on the national and international stage since he first took charge of a Football League match as a 25-year-old in 2000.
The former electrician was in the middle for Chesterfield’s clash with York City on that day and rapidly progressed up the career ladder before being promoted to the Select Group of referees in 2004. He has since regularly featured in the Premier League and was rewarded by being appointed to the FIFA list in 2006.
Clattenburg is now considered one of the top officials in English football and, as a result, he was the man in the middle of Liverpool’s victory over Cardiff City in the 2012 League Cup Final at Wembley.
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