Tottenham Hotspur V Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane: Match Preview

31 January 2012 15:02
Jordan: United have the experience.

Joe Jordan admits Manchester United are in a much better position to challenge for this year's Barclays Premier League title than his own team Tottenham.

The Spurs first team coach does believe that the Londoners can resurrect their title bid in the next few weeks, however, but admits his players must show more consistency and ruthlessness if they are to put themselves back in contention.

Having spent most of the Christmas period revelling in the hype around Tottenham's title chances, manager Harry Redknapp now finds his team eight points adrift of league leaders Manchester City after a defeat at the Etihad Stadium and a draw against Wolves. Spurs are 25-1 with some bookmakers to lift their first championship since 1961 and Jordan admits not having the experience of United, who are three points off the top of the table, counts against the White Hart Lane outfit. Jordan, a former United player, said:

"Tottenham and City won their last championship in the 1960s so it goes without saying it's harder (for either of those sides) to win it.

"United and Chelsea in recent years have proved they are champions and know how to do it.

"United, who have come in for a bit of criticism, are where they are not just because they have quality players, they have the knowledge of how to maintain the consistency.

"They can look back many times and know they have done it. That comes by having success in winning a championship.

"City haven't done it since the 1960s, neither have Spurs, so it's fair comment for people to question whether you can sustain it. We have dropped points but we have to accept it, get the results and get the consistency."

Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe are doubtful for the game after picking up hamstring injuries in Friday night's win over Watford. Gareth Bale (thigh) and Ledley King (knee) will be assessed after training on Monday, but Spurs are hopeful that both will be fit. Sandro has returned to light training following his calf injury but is unlikely to be risked while William Gallas (also calf) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are unavailable.

Meanwhile, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is not willing to allow his squad to be weakened as their battle for survival enters the final four months of the season. The Latics are bottom of the Barclays Premier League, four points from safety, but if that was not enough rival clubs are looking to prey on their precarious position by tempting away their best players.

Martinez faces a testing 48 hours before the transfer window closes as he and his side have to travel to play third-placed Spurs, while in the background speculation persists about bids for some of his stars. The Spaniard has defiantly declared he will not sell the likes of Victor Moses, who has been linked with a return to London with QPR, or James McCarthy, who has been on the radar of a number of clubs since moving from Hamilton in 2009.

However, he may be persuaded to cash in on striker Hugo Rodallega, whose contract expires in the summer. The Colombian's situation at the DW Stadium has been keenly watched by several clubs since last summer and he has scored only twice in 17 appearances this season - both goals coming at either end of their three-match losing run. But Martinez has made it clear he is under no pressure to offload and all he had to think about was how it would affect their relegation battle.

"We don't have to sell players to bring money in, we are not forced to do anything," he said.

"If anything is to happen between now and the end of the window it will be because we want to finish with a better squad than we started with.

"I feel the squad is stronger now than it was at the start of the window: Callum McManaman has come back (from a loan spell at Blackpool) a completely different player and Jean Beausejour (from Birmingham) has been a well-timed addition.

"I am happy with the two additions we have made."

New signing Jean Beausejour is likely to go straight into Wigan's squad after signing from Birmingham last week. Defender Antolin Alcaraz has not recovered from a groin problem but midfielder David Jones is expected to return after a calf strain while Shaun Maloney has recovered from a similar injury. Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame is expected to back to face Everton at the weekend after African Nations Cup duty.

Source: DSG