Spurs Vs Latics Preview

Wigan Athletic go into this afternoons game at White Hart Lane looking to finally get a victory over Tottenham Hotspur

The Latics have had six previous meeting with the Spurs and failed to win any of those with Spurs gaining victory in 3 and 3 draws.

Steve Bruce will have his team confident yet cautious of Ramos` side who are like a wounded animal sitting surely in a false position at the bottom of the Premier League

Spurs have had a major shift of players over the summer and it looks like it is taking time for them to settle down, out have gone Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov and in have come Modric and Pavlyuchenko, two class players but they need time.

In contrast Latics major summer additions Amr Zaki and Lee Cattermole have settled quickly at the JJB and Zaki is the Premier Leagues leading goal scorer with 5 already to his name, unfortunately due to a rather harsh double yellow last week Cattermole will be missing today, serving his first suspension of the season.

Today it will be important for the Latics to start strong and keep the Spurs attack out and frustrate the crowd, Latics have come strong in the second half of all their games so far this season, so the longer the game goes all square the more likely the Latics will come out victors

Latics boss Steve Bruce:

'We are under no illusion that in going to Spurs we will have to play well to get anything from the game.

'They gave us an absolute hiding last year, so I hope we can turn the tables.

'The longer it goes without us giving them any encouragement it becomes more difficult for them, especially when they've had a poor start'

'Spurs have certainly got some fantastic individual players that can win any game of football so we know it's going to be difficult.

'We haven't got the best of records there so we've got to go down there and make sure we play like we have been. If we do that then I know Tottenham will be in for a game.'


Spurs boss Juande Ramos:

'Darren Bent is obviously getting more time on the pitch now and he's got to demonstrate he can make up for the loss of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov.

'He's a goalscorer, he's quick, he's very good with his head. He is a very lethal striker in the last few metres leading up to the goal.

'I've got a broad knowledge of international footballers, so I knew who he was when he was at Charlton, but not in the same depth I know him now.'

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka return for Spurs.

Luka Modric is struggling with a knee injury while Alan Hutton is definately out

Spurs from:
Gomes, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Bent, Gilberto, Gunter, Dos Santos, Campbell, Dawson, Cesar, Corluka, O'Hara, King, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate.

Quality player with a sweet left foot can be devastating from free-kicks

Ryan Taylor has not yet recovered from a shin injury while Erik Edman is nearing a return from a knee injury

Lee Cattermole is serving a one-match

Latics from:
Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Koumas, Palacios, Kilbane, Heskey, Zaki, Brown, Camara, De Ridder, Kapo, Kupisz, Scharner, Pollitt.

He's big, strong, two good feet, good in the air and scores a goal per game and he's ours (this season at least)

Last Season

Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Wigan Athletic
11/11/07 - Referee Howard Webb

All previous games:

Spurs 3 wins, Latics 0, Draws 3

Steve Tanner (Somerset)

Card Watch

Games - 1

Yellows - 2

Reds - 0

Heart says Latics win 1-0

Head says 1-1

Carling Cup 3rd Round
Ipswich Town Vs Latics
Portman Road
Tuesday 23/09/08

Premier League
Latics Vs Manchester City
JJB
Sunday 28/09/08

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