December 27, 2011 7:30 PM GMT
Carrow Road — Norwich, Norfolk
Referee: M. Oliver
Attendance: 26807
Premier League Preview: Norwich City v Tottenham
Matches involving the Canaries have seen 58 goals scored so far this season, so plenty of goalmouth action is expected at Carrow Road on Tuesday, where hosts have injury troubles
By Ryan Benson
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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NORWICH CITY
Ruddy Martin, Barnett, Whitbread, Tierney Bennett, Hoolahan, Johnson, Pilkington Morison, Holt |
TOTTENHAM
Friedel Walker, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto Modric, Parker, Sandro, Bale Defoe, Adebayor |
Ritchie De Laet, on loan from Manchester United, is doubtful for the match with a back injury while James Vaughan (knee), Elliott Ward (knee) are definitely ruled out and Kyle Naughton is ineligible as he cannot play against his parent club.
Harry Redknapp will also have to cope without a few first-teamers as Spurs hope to close the gap on United, who are currently seven points ahead in second.
Michael Dawson is out until the end of the month with an Achilles injury, while Aaron Lennon won’t be back due to a hamstring tear and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) is also still a week away from fitness.
Spurs also have a number of players doubtful as Ledley King (knee), Younes Kaboul (hamstring) and Jermain Defoe (hamstring) will have to wait for fitness tests to determine whether they are match-ready.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- Norwich haven’t scored in any of their last four matches against Spurs.
- The last time Paul Lambert’s side beat Spurs was back in December 1993, in a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane.

- Norwich have scored four more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League this season with 11.
- Lambert’s team are one of only two sides yet to keep a clean sheet this term, with Blackburn Rovers being the other.
- Tottenham have won four of the last five meetings with the Canaries.
- Spurs’ last visit to Carrow Road ended in a 2-0 win for the side then managed by Martin Jol.
- Tottenham have lost just one match in their last 14.
- Spurs have only failed to win three of their last eight away matches.
- Norwich have only lost two matches at home so far this season.
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Norwich City 1-3 Tottenham
- 22.37 %
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Norwich City 1-2 Tottenham
- 15.85 %
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Norwich City 0-2 Tottenham
- 14.14 %
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Jan 30, 2013 | Norwich City 1 - Tottenham 1 | |
| England - Capital One Cup (CCUP) | Oct 31, 2012 | Norwich City 2 - Tottenham 1 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Sep 1, 2012 | Tottenham 1 - Norwich City 1 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Apr 9, 2012 | Tottenham 1 - Norwich City 2 | |
| England - Premier League (EPL) | Dec 27, 2011 | Norwich City 0 - Tottenham 2 |
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| May 19, 2013 | Manchester City FC 2 - Norwich City 3 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Norwich City 4 - West Bromwich Albion 0 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Stoke 1 - Norwich City 0 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Norwich City 2 - Reading 1 | EPL |
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| May 24, 2013 | Jamaica 0 - Tottenham 0 | FR |
| May 19, 2013 | Tottenham 1 - Sunderland 0 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Stoke 1 - Tottenham 2 | EPL |
| May 8, 2013 | Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | Tottenham 1 - Southampton 0 | EPL |
| 1 | John Ruddy | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Russell Martin | Defender |
| 3 | Adam Drury | Defender |
| 6 | Zak Whitbread | Defender |
| 44 | Ritchie De Laet | Defender |
| - | Andrew Crofts | Midfielder |
| 11 | Andrew Surman | Midfielder |
| 14 | Wesley Hoolahan | Midfielder |
| 15 | David Fox | Midfielder |
| 5 | Steve Morison | Striker |
| 9 | Grant Holt | Striker |
| 13 | Declan Rudd | Goalkeeper |
| 20 | Leon Barnett | Defender |
| 4 | Bradley Johnson | Midfielder |
| 12 | Anthony Pilkington | Midfielder |
| 17 | Elliott Bennett | Midfielder |
| 10 | Simeon Jackson | Striker |
| 21 | Aaron Wilbraham | Striker |
| 24 | Brad Friedel | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Younes Kaboul | Defender |
| 13 | William Gallas | Defender |
| 28 | Kyle Walker | Defender |
| 32 | Benoit Assou-Ekotto | Defender |
| 3 | Gareth Bale | Midfielder |
| 8 | Scott Parker | Midfielder |
| 23 | Rafael van der Vaart | Midfielder |
| 16 | Luka Modric | Midfielder |
| 30 | Sandro | Midfielder |
| 10 | Emmanuel Adebayor | Striker |
| - | Gomes | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | S. Bassong | Defender |
| 21 | Niko Kranjcar | Midfielder |
| 25 | Danny Rose | Midfielder |
| 29 | Jake Livermore | Midfielder |
| 20 | Steven Pienaar | Midfielder |
| 9 | Roman Pavlyuchenko | Striker |
| Grant Holt | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The 30-year-old centre-forward hasn’t been as involved as he had perhaps expected, or wanted, but the former Shrewsbury Town man has managed to get his season back on track in recent weeks.
After starting to make an impact from the bench, the forward has four goals in his last four home games and in the process has made himself the Canaries’ top scorer.
| Gareth Bale | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 3 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Welshman has been in good form recently, looking particularly dangerous in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, and he will no doubt be the man Spurs look to in order to create chances given the lack of wingers available to Harry Redknapp’s team.
Given Norwich’s defensive injuries, there will be even more emphasis on the left-sided player as he will be expected to make the most of the frailties and lack of a consistent backline.
Matches involving Norwich have led to 58 goals this season and it would be a surprise if the visit of Spurs doesn’t yield more, with the London club averaging two a game this term.
Norwich’s last home match saw the Canaries put four past a then high-flying Newcastle United, but Spurs’ decent away record this season will give Redknapp’s team the upper hand as they travel to East Anglia.

