Tottenham V West Ham Match Preview

28 December 2009 09:45

Tottenham Hotspur host a London derby when they welcome West Ham United to White Hart Lane in what should be an entertaining showdown.

Spurs should be in confident mood as they make a gallant effort to squeeze into the top-four positions in the Premier League.

The game will have added spice with Harry Redknapp facing his former club and Gianfranco Zola managing the Hammers after plying his trade with Spurs' rivals Chelsea during his playing days.

Another win for Redknapp will firmly pile the misery on the Upton Park outfit as they struggle to climb away from the foot of the table.

A midfield combination of Tom Huddlestone, Wilson Palacios, Aaron Lennon and excellent Croatia star Niko Kranjcar are finding form in the engine room.

With Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe a potent strikeforce, their starting place could be under threat from the towering Peter Crouch, who hit a match-winning double against Blackburn Rovers on December 19.

Captain Ledley King could return for Spurs after making a substitute appearance in their goalless Boxing Day derby draw with Fulham.

Long-term injury victim Carlo Cudicini will be out for the season after sustaining serious injuries in a motorcycle accident.

For the Hammers following their 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day, youngster Zavon Hines and star striker Carlton Cole are still missing with knee problems.

Calum Davenpot is still out after his domestic stabbing and Luis Boa Morte's cruciate ligament injury will keep him sidelined until the summer.

Mark Noble has also been ruled out after the England Under-21 midfielder limped out of the Portsmouth game with a hamstring problem.

Source: DSG