England - Premier League
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Played
December 16, 2012 1:30 PM GMT
White Hart Lane — London
Referee:‬ M. Dean‎
Attendance:‬ 35783‎
 
75′ Jan Vertonghen
 

Tottenham - Swansea Preview: Swans aim to record first ever win at White Hart Lane

The Welsh club have never won a league match against Spurs, losing 12 times and picking up just two points, but travel to north London buoyed by Capital One Cup progression

By Ewan Roberts

More On :  Swansea, Tottenham, Tottenham vs Swansea
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM
Tottenham
Lloris
Walker, Caulker, Vertonghen, Naughton
Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Dempsey
Adebayor, Defoe
SWANSEA
  Swansea City
Tremmel
Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies
Britton, Ki
Dyer, Michu, De Guzman
Shechter

Gareth Bale (hamstring) remains sidelined for the home side, so Clint Dempsey is likely to continue on the left of midfield in his absence.

The match may have come too soon for Scott Parker (Achilles), who has returned to full training and played 90 minutes in a recent friendly, though he could be named on the bench.

Michael Dawson (hamstring) is a doubt for the match, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) has only just returned to light training. Younes Kaboul (knee) is out until next year.

Michael Laudrup is still without first-choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm (groin), so 34-year-old German back-up Gerhard Tremmel should continue between the sticks.

Ashley Williams served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, but will return to the starting XI on Sunday.

Neil Taylor (ankle) remains a long-term absentee for the Swans, so Ben Davies should continue at left-back. Right-back Angel Rangel was rested mid-week against Middlesbrough, but should return to the team at White Hart Lane.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Tottenham have failed to score just once this season, only Everton have hit the back of the net as regularly as the Lilywhites.
  • The north London club lost a Premier League match in which Mousa Dembele had started for the first time against Everton last week (six wins out of six previously).
  • Spurs have conceded nine goals in the final 10 minutes of matches and scored none – if matches ended after 80 minutes they would be top of the league.
  • Only one player – Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin (112) – has recovered possession more often than Tottenham midfielder Sandro (111 combined tackles and interceptions).
  • Spurs and Swansea have received two bookings apiece for diving this season, the joint second most in the league behind Chelsea (four).
  • Swansea’s Spanish attacker Michu (pictured right) leads the Premier League’s scoring charts, with 12 goals in 16 appearances this season.
  • The Welsh side have failed to win on all six occasions when they have been losing at half-time, drawing two and losing four.
  • But the Liberty Stadium outfit have won every game in which they have led at half-time (three out of three).
  • The Swans and Tottenham are two of just six Premier League teams yet to win a penalty this season.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Tottenham 3-1 Swansea
    13.94 %
  • Tottenham 2-1 Swansea
    13.51 %
  • Tottenham 2-0 Swansea
    10.87 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Mar 30, 2013 Swansea 1 - Tottenham 2
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 16, 2012 Tottenham 1 - Swansea 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 1, 2012 Tottenham 3 - Swansea 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 31, 2011 Swansea 1 - Tottenham 1
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Last Five Matches
Tottenham
May 19, 2013Tottenham 1 - Sunderland 0EPL
May 12, 2013Stoke 1 - Tottenham 2EPL
May 8, 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
May 4, 2013Tottenham 1 - Southampton 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Tottenham 2EPL
Swansea
May 19, 2013Swansea 0 - Fulham 3EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 7, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Swansea 3EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Apr 28, 2013Chelsea FC 2 - Swansea 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Tottenham £16.67 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £260.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Swansea City £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
25Hugo LlorisGoalkeeper
-Jan VertonghenDefender
13William GallasDefender
28Kyle NaughtonDefender
28Kyle WalkerDefender
23Clint DempseyMidfielder
7Aaron LennonMidfielder
19Moussa DembeleStriker
30SandroMidfielder
10Emmanuel AdebayorStriker
18Jermain DefoeStriker
24Brad FriedelGoalkeeper
45Steven CaulkerDefender
6Tom HuddlestoneMidfielder
8Scott ParkerMidfielder
22Gylfi SigurdssonMidfielder
29Jake LivermoreMidfielder
-Andros TownsendMidfielder
25Gerhard TremmelGoalkeeper
4ChicoDefender
6Ashley WilliamsDefender
21Dwight TiendalliDefender
33Ben DaviesDefender
7Leon BrittonMidfielder
9MichuMidfielder
12Nathan DyerMidfielder
15Wayne RoutledgeMidfielder
20Jonathan De GuzmánMidfielder
24Sung-Yong KiMidfielder
13David CornellGoalkeeper
16Garry MonkDefender
26Kemy AgustienMidfielder
29Ashley RichardsMidfielder
10Danny GrahamStriker
17Itay ShechterStriker
19Luke MooreStriker
Players to Watch
Clint Dempsey
Clint Dempsey
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 23
Games Goals YC RC
29 7 3 0
The American is beginning to show signs of his old Fulham form in a Lilywhite shirt. Dempsey has scored or assisted four goals in his last five games in all competitions, not including the header that rebounded off the crossbar, onto the back of Panathinaikos goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis and over the line. With Gareth Bale injured, and the Texan likely to deputise on the left wing in his absence, the onus is on Dempsey to produce for Spurs now more than ever.
Jonathan De Guzmán
Jonathan De Guzmán
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 20
Games Goals YC RC
37 5 6 0
While summer signing Michu has hogged most of the plaudits in south Wales, Swansea’s Canadian-born attacking midfielder has been equally impressive. The 25-year-old, on loan from Villarreal, has brought more directness to the Swans’ midfield, and will provide accurate set-pieces against a Tottenham defence often vulnerable from free kicks and corners. De Guzman has hit form recently, scoring and assisting in Swansea’s 4-3 loss against Norwich last week.
Prediction
Both sides have scored and conceded freely this season, so the match is likely to be open and end-to-end. Swansea have been hit and miss on their travels, though will likely enjoy a lot of possession at White Hart Lane, where Spurs have struggled at home this year. The Lilywhites may find their time on the ball limited against the Swans, but that could play into their own counterattacking strengths. With most of Swansea’s side having played on Wednesday night, Tottenham will be fitter and fresher and eager to make up for last week's loss to Everton.
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 3
Swansea City 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0