England - FA Cup
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Played
January 5, 2013 3:00 PM GMT
White Hart Lane — London
Referee:‬ M. Naylor‎
Attendance:‬ 35766‎
 
14′ Clint Dempsey
 
33′ Gareth Bale
 
37′ Clint Dempsey
 

Tottenham - Coventry Preview: Spurs reunited with old FA Cup foe

Spurs will look to kick off their campaign in style after suffering semi-final disappointment last season, against a League One team that defeated them in the 1987 final

By Matt Davis

More On :  Coventry, Tottenham, Tottenham vs Coventry
EPL, Tottenham Hotspur v Reading, Emmanuel Adebayor
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  PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM

Friedel
Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Naughton
Huddlestone, Parker 
Falque, Sigurdsson,Townsend,
Adebayor
COVENTRY

Murphy
Christie, Wood, Edjenguele, Adams
 Baker, Fleck, Jennings, Moussa
Clarke, McSheffrey

Andre Villas-Boas could give Scott Parker his first start since coming back from injury, but the FA Cup clash might come too soon for Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who is lacking match fitness.

Tottenham's big stars may be rested, giving the likes of Parker, Andros Townsend, Tom Huddlestone and Yago Falque a chance to impress.

Brad Friedel could be set to make his return to the Tottenham line-up, making his first start since signing a new contract at the club, keeping him at White Hart Lane until 2014.

The Sky Blues come into the game following their first defeat in 10 games, losing 1-0 on New Year's Day to Shrewsbury and will undoubtedly be going all-out against Tottenham, making amends for last year's exit in the third round of the cup.

Despite starting 2013 with a defeat, it is unlikely Mark Robins will make many changes to the line-up, with his team keeping an impressive eight clean sheets so far this season. However, he will have to make one crucial change as top scorer David McGoldrick has left to join Ipswich Town, so loan signing Leon Clarke could come in.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Tottenham reached the semi-final of the cup last year, losing 5-1 to Chelsea, who eventually went on to lift the trophy.
  • Coventry beat Tottenham in the 1987 FA Cup final, grabbing a winner in extra time in a 3-2 thriller.
  • Steve Ogrizovic, who played over 500 times for the Sky Blues and was the goalkeeper in the 1987 FA Cup final, remains at the club as goalkeeping coach.
  • Coventry boss Mark Robins won the FA Cup once as a player, with Manchester United in 1990.
  • Tottenham have not conceded this season when Scott Parker (pictured) has been on the pitch.
  • Spurs have conceded only two goals in their last five Premier League games.
  • David McGoldrick is Coventry's top goalscorer so far this season, scoring 18 times.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Tottenham 3-0 Coventry
    15.11 %
  • Tottenham 3-1 Coventry
    12.04 %
  • Tottenham 2-0 Coventry
    8.72 %
Head to Head
England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 5, 2013 Tottenham 3 - Coventry 0
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
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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
Coventry
Apr 27, 2013Notts County F.C. 2 - Coventry 2EFL1
Apr 20, 2013Coventry 0 - Leyton Orient 1EFL1
Apr 13, 2013Crawley Town 2 - Coventry 0EFL1
Apr 6, 2013Coventry 1 - Brentford 1EFL1
Apr 1, 2013Walsall F.C. 4 - Coventry 0EFL1
Odds
Returns: Tottenham £12.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £340.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Coventry £660.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
24Brad FriedelGoalkeeper
32Benoit Assou-EkottoDefender
28Kyle NaughtonDefender
20Michael DawsonDefender
45Steven CaulkerDefender
23Clint DempseyMidfielder
3Gareth BaleMidfielder
22Gylfi SigurdssonMidfielder
8Scott ParkerMidfielder
6Tom HuddlestoneMidfielder
10Emmanuel AdebayorStriker
25Hugo LlorisGoalkeeper
-Jan VertonghenDefender
7Aaron LennonMidfielder
-Andros TownsendMidfielder
19Moussa DembeleStriker
46Thomas CarrollMidfielder
18Jermain DefoeStriker
1Joe MurphyGoalkeeper
34Blair Adams Defender
26Jordan ClarkeDefender
24Richard WoodDefender
23William Emery EdjengueleDefender
18Carl Baker Midfielder
-Franck MoussaMidfielder
19Gary McSheffreyMidfielder
-James BaileyMidfielder
-Steven JenningsMidfielder
8Leon ClarkeStriker
1Chris DunnGoalkeeper
31Cyrus ChristieDefender
-Nathan CameronDefender
-Adam BartonMidfielder
-Conor ThomasDefender
-John FleckMidfielder
-Stephen ElliottStriker
Players to Watch
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 22
Games Goals YC RC
2 0 0 0
The midfielder started his career at Tottenham very slowly, but he has impressed many with recent performances, grabbing a few assists. The Iceland international was close to scoring against Stoke City when Spurs drew 0-0 with Tony Pulis' side, and could get his first home goal for the club on Saturday.
David McGoldrick
David McGoldrick
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 17
Games Goals YC RC
1 0 0 0
Coventry's top goalscorer has been on sensational form, scoring 18 goals this season. Against an inexperienced Steven Caulker and slower-paced William Gallas, the striker could bolster his goalscoring record for the season as he hopes to send Coventry into the next round of the FA Cup.
Prediction
The likes of David McGoldrick will certainly be looking to build up their reputations in north London, but ultimately, the firepower of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Emmanuel Adebayor among others should be too much for Coventry to handle.
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 4
Coventry 1
Results
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