Tottenham Hotspur meet Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Saturday. Spurs were frustrated after being forced to settle for a share of the spoils from their trip to take on struggling Sunderland on Tuesday, and Mauricio Pochettino's team will set their sights on a swift return to winning ways when they welcome Aitor Karanka's charges to north London.
Despite the stalemate in Sunderland, Spurs moved ahead of Arsenal and into second place in the Premier League standings and, given their impressive record on home soil this season, will fancy their chances of beating 'Boro.
Pochettino's men have yet to be beaten at White Hart Lane this term - a run of results that stretches to 14 fixtures in domestic competition; furthermore, Spurs have come out on top in each of their last nine home games in all competitions. As such, they are chalked up as Betfair Sportsbook's 1/4 (1.25) favourites to maintain their fine record on home soil by taking maximum points from this match.
BETFAIRThat 1/4 (1.25) is unlikely to tempt too many punters into backing Spurs straight up, but Betfair have got an enhanced new customer price available. Anyone opening a new account can take a quote of 6/1 (7.0) on the hosts via the link provided. Simply register and back the red-hot favourites with your first bet and if they win, the returns will be topped up to the enhanced price of 6/1 (7.0). Winnings paid in free bets. T&C's apply.
Middlesbrough have a miserable record on the road; Karanka's charges have failed to win any of their last 11 matches away from home in all competitions and Betfair Sportsbook offer a chunky 12/1 (13.0) that the team from Teesside claim a vital victory, while the same firm go 9/2 (5.50) that the match ends all square.
Spurs, though, have been the dominant force in this fixture down the years, winning five of their last six matches against Middlesbrough at White Hart Lane and, with Pochettino's team in free-scoring form, Karanka's men will certainly face a tough test in this tie.
Spurs have scored 28 goals in their last nine home matches in all competitions - nine more than Middlesbrough have managed in 23 Premier League outings so far this season - and the north Londoners will fancy their chances of getting amongst the goals again.
GOALSpurs have struck more than two goals in eight of their last 11 wins and Betfair Sportsbook's 13/10 (2.30) quote for Tottenham to score three or more goals certainly offers decent value for punters, while the same firm go 3/4 (1.75) that the hosts (-1) win by, at least, two clear goals.
It's not just in attack that Spurs have been superb this season though, Pochettino's men boast the best home defensive record in the division, having conceded just five goals in 11 league matches at White Hart Lane. They have also kept nine clean sheets on home turf this term - winning on each occasion.
Karanka's men have scored fewer goals than any other top-flight team and, therefore, punters are advised to back Spurs to win to nil at a juicy 5/6 (1.83) with Betfair Sportsbook.
The selection would have landed in four of Spurs' last five Premier League wins at White Hart Lane, and the 5/6 (1.83) quote offers outstanding value ahead of Saturday's showdown in north London.
