Source: Daily_Mail
Harry's game: Sportsmail's guide to how Tottenham will (or won't) survive
With just six wins in their opening 25 Premier League games this season, Tottenham [LNB]boss Harry Redknapp might be pushing it to expect five wins from the closing 13.[LNB] Key role to play: Gareth Bale[LNB] But expect he does, his eye firmly fixed on the 40-point safety barrier with the White Hart Lane club anchored two points and two places above the drop zone.[LNB] Rebrov, Boogers and Co: Sportsmail's worst Premier League strikers ever[LNB]Former Spurs boss Ramos gets Real secretive ahead of Liverpool meeting[LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB]And Harry, who arrived with Spurs rock bottom and just two points banked from eight matches, is confident he'll complete the transformation from relegation certs to mid-table mediocrity.[LNB]But will 40 points be enough this time round? It's all very close at the foot of the Premier League despite Redknapp's prediction: 'If you win five games, 40 points wouldn't be a problem.'[LNB]And do Tottenham have it in them to string together five wins in a few months? Sportsmail looks at their run-in and sees where Harry's 15 points will come from - or not.[LNB]February 23 Hull City (away) Back in the good old Juande Ramos days, Hull [LNB]won at White Hart Lane just a week after Tottenham fans laughed their socks at Arsenal losing at home to the Premier League new boys.Since then Hull have been struggling and are now just six points off the drop and have taken some fearful home hammerings so it's hard to see Spurs losing at the KC Stadium.[LNB]Prediction: Draw. Tottenham points: 26[LNB]March 4 Middlesbrough (home) Good old-fashioned six -pointer here but with Middlesbrough [LNB]unable to buy a win and some sections of the media already calling for a Terry Venables-type 'helper' for beleagured manager Gareth Southgate, this is the first of Harry's called-for wins, aided by a dazzling David Bentley hat-trick and a last-gasp penalty save from Carlo Cudicini.[LNB]Prediction: Spurs win. Tottenham points: 29[LNB]March 7 Sunderland (away) Spurs lost at home to Sunderland [LNB]when both teams were rubbish back in August. Ricky Sbragia has made the Black Cats difficult to beat and he'll pocket another three points here. And what a sickener for Tottenham as their former favourite Steed Malbranque nets an injury-time winner seconds after Pascal Chimbonda's poorly-struck backpass leaves Cudicini in no-man's land.[LNB] Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 29[LNB]March 15 Aston Villa [LNB](away) Another team to plunder three points at the Lane, expect Martin O'Neill's top-four hopefuls to brush Spurs aside again. There's no 4-4 draw here but after Cudicini is sent off for laughing at Emile Heskey's five-yard miss, Spurs leak goals aplenty. However, it is all down to poor selection from Redknapp who picked Premier League jinx Gareth Bale when he should have left him at home. [LNB]Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 29[LNB]March 21 Chelsea [LNB](home) One of the high points of Tottenham's season was the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge but expect the steely Guus Hiddink to put the record straight this time and make it three defeats in a row for Harry and once again the vultures are circling over North London. Gareth Bale is sent on loan to Aberdeen to get him as far away from White Hart Lane as possible. [LNB]Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 29 [LNB]April 4 Blackburn [LNB](away) By this time, Big Sam Allardyce will have led Rovers out of the bottom three at the expense of Tottenham and he'll have everyone at Ewood Park fired up for this clash. And there's good news for Redknapp as they edge closer to safety but it's not pretty stuff as Darren Bent comes off the bench to wipe out a blinding early goal from Roque Santa Cruz.[LNB]Prediction: Spurs draw. Tottenham points: 30[LNB]April 11 West Ham (home) In the clash of the unpredictables, Spurs slip out of the bottom three with a precious London derby success, ending the Hammers' hopes of a UEFA Cup place. Redknapp hails Gareth Bale, now on loan at West Ham[LNB]and insists: ' Just a couple more wins and we're there. I wouldn't rule us out of making a late bid for a place in the UEFA Cup[LNB]Prediction: Spurs win. Tottenham points: 33[LNB]April 18 Newcastle United[LNB](home) The Magpies are well and truly in the relegation mire and need something from this game but get nothing as new manager Kevin Keegan looks on from the stands following a first-half red card for thumping Chris Hughton who cheered when Spurs scored. There's more gloom for Newcastle fans when Dennis Wise signs an extended 12-year deal to become executive director (non-executive) of all football matters (non-football).[LNB]Prediction: Spurs win. Tottenham points: 36[LNB]April 25 Manchester United[LNB](away) United have been slipping in recent weeks and need to win to stay ahead of joint Premier League leaders Liverpool[LNB], Chelsea [LNB]and Aston Villa - expecially with Arsenal [LNB]just a point behind. Fergie's side romp home leaving Harry in trouble again. However results at the bottom go Tottenham's way with Gareth Bale's loan move to West Brom[LNB]not proving a success.[LNB]Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 36[LNB]May 2 West Brom (home) Crucial game for both sides but Tottenham move within one point of Harry's mystical figure as they relegate the Baggies. Harrys let's Gareth Bale play and it proves a great success as does playing with no keeper and employing Heurelho Gomes as a makeshift coach driver (non-driving).[LNB]Prediction: Spurs win. Tottenham points: 39[LNB]May 9 Everton (away) Back to earth with a crash as UEFA Cup chasing Everton [LNB]hand out a Goodison Park hammering even with 38 first-teamers injured, Howard Kendall in midfield, Neville Southall as emergency centre back and Freddie Starr wide right. Good to see Graeme Sharp back in the goals as well.[LNB]Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 39[LNB]May 16 Manchester City[LNB](home) It's up for grabs now but Spurs fall short as they are undone by a 275-yard shot from Robinho that dribbles through Heurelho Gomes' quaking hands. Redknapp reads the riot act to his players and reminds them of how grim life will be in the Championship and those midweek trips to Barnsley, Blackpool, Doncaster, Newcastle and MK Dons. [LNB]Prediction: Spurs lose. Tottenham points: 39[LNB]May 24 Liverpool (away) Tottenham know what they have to do. Win at Anfield and they're safe. However, Liverpool [LNB]know if they win, they're the Premier League Champions. Lose, and they'll finish fifth in the closest, most thrilling title race in years with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Aston Villa all on the same number of points. And with the scores level at half-time, Spurs edge a 4-3 win thanks to a Robbie Keane hat-trick and a last-gasp 35-yard free-kick from Gareth Bale, restored the Tottenham line-up at long last and celebrating his first League win with the club after two years of trying.[LNB]Prediction: Spurs win. Tottenham points: 42. [LNB]So it won't be easy for Harry to avoid the drop but Sportsmail has comprehensively proved they will - even if they do go to the wire and make their fans sweat buckets along the way. But when did they ever do anything the easy way?[LNB]Relegated: Newcastle, West Brom, Stoke City.[LNB] Rebrov, Boogers and Co: Sportsmail's worst Premier League strikers ever[LNB]Former Spurs boss Ramos gets Real secretive ahead of Liverpool meeting[LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB][LNB] [LNB]
