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Spurs are still looking for their first Europa League win in Group J but Adam Bate expects it to come against the Slovenians at White Hart Lane on Thursday

With the injuries piling up and the fixtures continuing to come thick and fast for Tottenham, Thursday’s home game in Group J of the Europa League represents a test of Andre Villas-Boas’ commitment to the competition.

Spurs need a result. In fact, after three consecutive draws and with a trip to Lazio to come, their home fixture against Maribor has become of critical importance.

Villas-Boas has stressed a desire to win trophies, and with his side having been eliminated from the Capital One Cup, this is an opportunity he will not wish to squander so early in the campaign.

Tottenham are 2/7 (1.29) favourites with Marathon Bet to claim three points against Maribor at White Hart Lane.

The Slovenian visitors may sense a chink in the home side’s armour given a disappointing recent record of one win in five games.

But after seven consecutive wins in their domestic league, they themselves have lost two of the last four including a first home defeat of the season at the weekend.

Admittedly, the latter could be evidence of focus on the trip to White Hart Lane and that may tempt some to take the price of 10/1 (11.00) with Marathon Bet for an away win.

A draw, which would be a repeat of the scoreline in Slovenia, is available at 53/10 (6.30).

If you think Maribor can avoid defeat in this one then the double chance price of 59/20 (3.95) could be of interest.

The 1-1 draw between the sides a fortnight ago, coupled with a one-goal defeat to Lazio, certainly encourages the idea that Maribor are capable of keeping things tight against superior opposition.

And that makes under 2.5 goals an option at 69/50 (2.38) with Marathon Bet.

But throw in the 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in Champions League qualifying, along with the Lazio defeat and it points more compellingly to Tottenham winning to nil here – available at 28/25 (2.12) with Marathon Bet.

While that’s the pick of the bets, for the value option consider the fact that Emmanuel Adebayor is set for his first start of the season.

With 27 goals in 60 home games at club level since the summer of 2009, he looks good value at 11/4 (3.75) to net first, given the standard of opposition and the fact that he is likely to be hungry for his opportunity.

BET

OF THE

DAY

BEST BET

VALUE BET

Spurs to win to nil at 28/25 (2.12) with Marathon

Adebayor to score first at 11/4 (3.75) with Marathon

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Adam Bate is a professional freelance journalist who specialises in football and betting. He is editor of GhostGoal which can be found here - you can also follow Adam on