Riise hoping Fulham can take advantage of a tired Tottenham

15-Mar-2013 1:05:00 AM

The Norway international is expecting a difficult game at White Hart Lane on Sunday but thinks that Spurs' heavy recent schedule in the Europa League could make them vulnerable

Fulham defender John Arne Riise believes that Tottenham's busy schedule may give his side the advantage when they go head-to-head on Sunday.

The Premier League clash will be Spurs' fourth game in just 11 days, while the Cottagers have not played a competitive match since March 2 due to their early elimination from the FA Cup.

Riise feels that this extra freshness could stand Martin Jol's men in good stead on Sunday, when they try to become the first team to win at White Hart Lane in 14 matches.


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60/1	John Arne Riise is 60/1 with William Hill to score the first goal in a Fulham win over Tottenham

"It's one of the toughest matches because of the way they play and they're in good shape," the Norwegian told Fulham's official website, "but they have a heavy schedule right now as they're playing in the Europa League so hopefully they'll be a bit tired."

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old is not expecting an easy afternoon, as he prepares to face a side boasting two of the most dangerous wingers in the league, as well as a couple of familiar faces.

"They still have one of the best players in the league at the moment in Gareth Bale," he continued. "He can't stop scoring and he's a fantastic person as well. They've got Aaron Lennon on the other side too and good players all over the pitch.

"It will be nice to see Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey again but it will be a very tough game for us. That's the type of game we'll go into to try and get at least a point."

The Cottagers will be looking to gain revenge for the 3-0 home defeat that their London rivals inflicted upon them earlier on in the season.

"We should have won that game but somehow lost," Riise recalled, "but every game has its own life and, as I said, they have a busy schedule, whereas we'll have had a free weekend.

"We'll train well and prepare our best for it and we look forward to it. It's a derby and anything can happen."

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