With both teams having nothing to play for, this game on Saturday lunch-time between the Hammers and Spurs is simply for bragging rights, with Sam Allardyce’s men recording two wins over the North London side this season; a 3-0 victory in the league at White Hart Lane, and a 2-1 win in the Capital One Cup quarter-final.
The 2-1 defeat in the Capital One Cup quarter-final was Tim Sherwood’s first game in charge of Spurs, since that result, Sherwood has lost just five times in the league, and once against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Team News
West Ham will be without James Tomkins and Marco Boriello.
Tim Sherwood has a host of players out injured; Andros Townsend, Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen, Etienne Capoue, Kyle Walker and Eric Lamela.
Key Statistics
- Spurs have lost just two of their last ten Premier League matches against the Hammers, winning three of their last five away trips to the Boleyn Ground.
- Andy Carroll has scored in the last two games against Tottenham Hotspur, but ended up on the losing side in both matches.
- Tottenham Hotspur have the second most away points in the Premier League this season. (33)
- West Ham United have lost their last four games in the Premier League, conceding seven and scoring just twice.
Key Players:
Mark Noble
Born and bred in East London, Mark Noble bleeds claret and blue, and this is evident on this season’s showing for the Hammers, playing in all 36 games for West Ham United.
Noble has arguably been their most consistent player this season, and could be up for West Ham United’s Player of the Year for the second time in three years.
The 26-year old has played a pivotal role for the East London side this season, breaking up the play when needed (78 interceptions, 69% tackle success rate and winning 56% of his ground duels).
Noble is also capable of being a creative outlet for his team (55 chances created, of which 7 were clear-cut; adding 3 assists to his West Ham cause this season).
The English central midfielder has scored an impressive three goals from a total of 16 shots this season, accumulating a 19% chance conversion and a 100% clear-cut chance conversion.
Christian Eriksen
Simply put, the Danish international has been the only significant creative and scoring outlet bar Emmanuel Adebayor this season for Spurs. Eriksen clearly thrives with the role as the primary playmaker.
It is no coincidence that Adebayor and Eriksen have thrived since Andre Villas-Boas’s departure, and Tim Sherwood’s appointment as Head Coach.
This Spurs side now play with more freedom. Since Sherwood has taken over at N17, Eriksen has played 16 times for the North London side, scoring all of his seven Premier League goals under the man who replaced Villas-Boas. In that period, Eriksen has also created eight goals for Spurs.
Eriksen is the creative cog in this current Spurs side, with many pundits likening him to former Spurs favourite Luka Modric.
It’s fair to say that if Christian Eriksen carries this form in to the last two games of the season, there may be a host of suitors coming in for the Danish international. Although, reports suggest Frank de Boer will be allowed to speak to Spurs about their current ‘vacant’ managerial position. If this is true, then that may sway Christian Eriksen to stay in N17 for their foreseeable future.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
