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Michael Dawson is back in the England squad for the first time since his horror injury in the 4-0 win over Bulgaria in September.

The Tottenham defender suffered the freak ankle injury which forced him to sit out three months of the season, a run which coincided with just one clean sheet for his club in that period in any competition.

Despite not being in the great form which earned him a late call up as Rio Ferdinand’s replacement for the 2010 World Cup, Dawson is looking to take his chance with both hands when England make the trip to play Denmark in Copenhagen in midweek.

Also in the England squad is Dawson’s team mate Kyle Walker. The right-back, currently on loan at Aston Villa for the rest of the season, is hotly tipped to eventually take the right back spot at White Hart Lane and caught the eye with a stunning long-range effort for Villa at the weekend.

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For a change there was no significant late action on a transfer deadline day at White Hart Lane, so often the scene of last-ditch drama in previous windows.

A last-minute deal for Blackpool’s Charlie Adam didn’t go through, as Spurs fans were left slightly bemused as to why midfield was an area Harry Redknapp was looking to reinforce.

Tottenham’s strikers have managed just SIX Premier League goals between them this season, with the out-of-favour Roman Pavlyuchenko netting all but one of those. Jermaine Defoe has had injury problems but still failed to score from open play since Spurs beat Blackburn 3-2 in March last year, whilst Peter Crouch has only hit the target nine times from his 61 Premier League appearances for the club since arriving from Portsmouth in August 2009.

With Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle experiencing a flurry of big money activity, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp says the amounts being spent were “crazy”, despite him reportedly bidding £38m for Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero.

Spurs travel to Blackburn on Wednesday night, with Redknapp admitting he may have to throw Jonathan Woodgate straight in to the deep end at Ewood Park after 15 months out. Woodgate had earlier rejected a loan move to Wolves in the transfer window, vowing to stake his claim for a place in Spurs’ leaky defence, which has failed to keep a single clean sheet away from home in any competition all season.

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp says he’s delighted to draw AC Milan in the Champions League knock out stage.

Having topped Group A in their maiden season in the competition, Spurs would probably have eyed easier opponents, however it does mean they go back to the San Siro, where a stirring second half comeback spearheaded by Gareth Bale against Inter Milan fell just short.

The North London club were two goals and a man down after just 10 minutes on their previous visit in the group stage, and will certainly look for a far better first half performance against the Serie A leaders than they did against Inter.

Speaking just after the draw, and ahead of the weekend trip to Blackpool, Redknapp believes his side will approach the San Siro game in a far more confident way.

There’s plenty still to do for Spurs, with 10 games to be played before the 15th February date, however.

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The match stats below are compiled with major football betting markets in mind. They are presented as facts without recommendation, allowing you to spot trends and decide whether they have relevance as betting opportunities. Click any ‘Bet Now’ button to see a bet slip from that bookmaker.

NARRATIVE:

This is a new Premier League fixture. Tottenham won the reverse game via a 5-0 score-line earlier in the season having led 2-0 at half time. All time league record between these two teams reads as follows: Burnley 34–Draws: 22–Tottenham: 33

MARKET:

N/A

MARKET: Correct Score

N/A

MARKET: First team to score

N/A

MARKET: Even or odd total of goals:

N/A

Tottenham have deservedly qualified for the Champions League & we see that as being more bad news for Burnley in their final home game of the season as this looks the perfect opportunity for Tottenham to celebrate their achievements on the pitch in style.
Yes Burnley will want to give their loyal home fans one last hurrah in the Premier League but Tottenham come here as a side full of quality with the pressure off & certainly they will believe they can take Burnley apart just like they did at White Hart Lane earlier in the season.

Of course there is a chance that the Tottenham players might go into this game having celebrated hard having deservedly reached the Champions League but we expect whichever Tottenham side turns up at Burnley to be way too good for Burnley & a Tottenham away win looks the only sensible & viable outcome with goals likely.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Tottenham to win

Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 3-1/4-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Defoe/Crouch/Modric

Scorecast options: Defoe/Crouch/Modric score 1st & Tottenham win 3-1/4-1

Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

The match stats below are compiled with major football betting markets in mind. They are presented as facts without recommendation, allowing you to spot trends and decide whether they have relevance as betting opportunities. Click any ‘Bet Now’ button to see a bet slip from that bookmaker.

NARRATIVE:

Whilst City have fared well enough in the five games where teams led at the interval, the home side secured just one of eighteen potential points when the teams were all square at the turn. City have failed to score six times which in the context of playing at home in inexcusable. City have scored just four goals in the last six games whilst Tottenham have snared nineteen of the last twenty four points. Doubles: Manchester City 0—-Tottenham 6

MARKET:

Manchester City: 2 wins–Draws: 2–Tottenham: 8 wins (goal difference: 12/18)

MARKET: Correct Score

3 x 0-1, 2 x 0-2, 2 x 1-2

MARKET: First team to score

Manchester City: 3—-Tottenham: 8 (1 x 0-0 draw)

MARKET: Even or odd total of goals:

Even: 4—-Odd: 8

The footballing world has been crying out for teams to come along & break the monopoly of the “Big 4″ in the Premier League & this season both Manchester City & Tottenham have put in committed, consistent bids to do just that & now the moment of final judgement has arrived.
4th place & qualification for the Champions League is the holy grail of domestic football & the prize that Manchester City & Tottenham now go head-to-head for in truly massive, high intensity winner takes all battle that should prove to be a match for us all to enjoy.

Manchester City & Tottenham are the two sides who most deserve to be fighting it out for 4th place & both sides are absolutely packed full with top quality players so anything is possible in this fixture on the night but a glance at the history books suggests one team may well already have one hand on the points.

Manchester City & Tottenham have played each other 25 times in the Premier League and incredibly the record stands as follows: Manchester City 3 wins, 4 Draws & Tottenham 18 wins with the record in this particular fixture Man City 2 wins, 2 draws & an amazing 8 wins for Tottenham.

Obviously those historical facts are just that & will have no direct bearing on the outcome of the match but nonetheless they are interesting facts & will certainly give those connected to Tottenham extra confidence & those connected to Manchester City cause for concern & something extra to think about.

From a tactical & football perspective this should be a fantastically entertaining & competitive match because it’s a case of top quality going up against top quality and while the match will carry massive pressures & intensity, the quality of football should be high given the way both like to play.

Manchester City’s key strength is in playing, positive, attacking football & letting the likes of Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor & Wright-Phillips do the damage with their pace & quality although they do have concerns regarding the solidity of their defence which will be tested here.

Tottenham have many similarities with Manchester City in that their strength lies in playing positive, attacking football with Crouch, Defoe, Pavlychenko, Gudjohnsen, Huddlestone, Lennon & Modric all more than capable of delivering the quality that can beat any side when Tottenham are at their best.

Sometimes when matches are so important & carry so much pressure on both sides the match gets lost as both teams cancel each other out in a fear of losing but we expect both Manchester City & Tottenham to have a real go at getting the win & this should be an excellent game which is hard to call.

Both Manchester City & Tottenham know that if there is a winner then that side will be in the Champions League so clearly everything is at stake & both will be positive & either side can definitely win this but on balance a highly entertaining, competitive scoring draw looks a value bet well worth taking & one that will take the battle for 4th to the last day.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: DRAW

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First Goalscorer each way/player score anytime: Defoe/Crouch/Tevez

Scorecast options: Defoe/Crouch/Tevez score 1st & 1-1/2-2

Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

The match stats below are compiled with major football betting markets in mind. They are presented as facts without recommendation, allowing you to spot trends and decide whether they have relevance as betting opportunities. Click any ‘Bet Now’ button to see a bet slip from that bookmaker.

NARRATIVE:

Tottenham have only failed to score on one occasion whilst Bolton turned both of their victories into

Tottenham are chasing 4th place & the Champions League, Bolton are safe & nothing to play for and so that should decide this match.
Sounds simplistic & probably dismissive of Bolton but the bookmakers offers of 1/4 for Tottenham to win this suggest we are spot on & that Bolton have little hope in this one as Tottenham chase the dream that is very close to becoming reality.

In their last two home matches, Tottenham were way too strong & good for both Arsenal & Chelsea so they will have no fear about facing a Bolton side whom they beat 4-0 in the F.A. Cup.

Harry Redknapp has done a fantastic job at Tottenham & achieving 4th place & the Champions League would be an incredible achievement given they were bottom when he took over last year & to be fair to Tottenham they do deserve to finish 4th having been there so long.

Owen Coyle has achieved his first task of keeping Bolton safe & that now gives him the opportunity to get the players he wants & get Bolton playing the way he wants to play but in terms of this season, their work looks finished & it is hard to envisage them to doing too much here.

Tottenham have to win this match & we think they are an absolutely rock solid bet to do so with Defoe & Crouch looking for the goals that will cement their place at the World Cup and they can guide Tottenham towards another massive three points here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match result: Tottenham to win

Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 2-0/3-0

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Defoe/Crouch/Modric

Scorecast options: Defoe/Crouch/Modric score 1st & Tottenham win 2-0/3-0

Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

The match stats below are compiled with major football betting markets in mind. They are presented as facts without recommendation, allowing you to spot trends and decide whether they have relevance as betting opportunities. Click any ‘Bet Now’ button to see a bet slip from that bookmaker.

NARRATIVE:

You have to feel for Tottenham and their supporters. Last year was the only time that Spurs had managed to score more than one goal in a Premiership encounter at Old Trafford. Both goals were scored early in the first half to create a comfortable half time position only for Tottenham to cave in, conceding five second half goals! Before last year