All articles by: Wil Griffith

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – Match Preview

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Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview – 26th April 2017
FA Premier League, Selhurst Park, London, 8pm

 

Following a disappointing weekend, Tottenham Hotspur will travel to Selhurst Park to take on a recently-very dangerous Crystal Palace team on Wednesday evening. No team in the Premier League is in better form than Tottenham, winners of their last seven league games, who will be looking to keep their diminishing title hopes alive against a Crystal Palace side that has beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the month of April to pull 7 points above Swansea in the final relegation position. Without doubt, Palace will be looking to add to their impressive month and to avenge Spurs’ 1-0 win at White Hart lane in August.

 

Team News

Both teams come into the match without much news on the injury-front. Tottenham left back Danny Rose has resumed first-team training but is unlikely to feature, while Harry Winks, Erik Lamela are unavailable for the rest of the season. Sporadically-used substitutes Cameron Carter-Vickers and Michel Vorm are also unavailable for Spurs. Palace will be without centre back James Tompkins who was injured during Sunday’s game against Liverpool and he may miss the rest of the season, but will welcome back defender Mamadou Sakho who missed the Liverpool game against his parent club.

Sam Allardyce will also be in the unpleasant position of trying to balance his squad for the midweek game as on Saturday, The Eagles take on Burnley and having lost four of their six games playing on four or less days’ rest, changes could be prominent as Allardyce has hinted that there could well be big changes from the squad that beat Liverpool on Sunday. This would be welcoming news to Pochettino and Tottenham.

Benteke scoring against Swansea City

Benteke scoring against Swansea City Photo Credit: Skysports.com

Players to Watch

Crystal Palace have not scored a league goal against Tottenham since 2015, but Christian Benteke has 3 in his last 2 games and will certainly be looking to add to that form on Wednesday against a very stingy Tottenham back-3 that have given up the fewest goals in the Premier league this season. Benteke may also be looking to justify his manager’s comments this week regarding Allardyce’s unwillingness to swap Benteke for Spur’s striker Harry Kane. Additionally, former Spur’s winger Andros Townsend could also look to strike a blow against his former club’s title chances after netting earlier this month against Arsenal.

Kyle-Walker-looks-to-provide-a-goal-threat-with-his-speed-and-crossing-ability

Kyle-Walker looks to provide a goal threat with his speed and crossing ability Photo Credit: Standard.co.uk

After being curiously dropped for the FA Cup Semifinal, Kyle Walker is expected to return to the starting eleven against Crystal Palace. Walker has performed outstandingly this season, fully deserving being named in the PFA Team of the Year this week. look for him to test the patchy Crystal Palace defence with his lightning-fast runs and accurate crosses.

 

Suggested Tips:

  • Skybet Price Boost – Christian Benteke to score and Crystal Palace to win in 90 mins – 8/1
  • Skybet Price Boost – Harry Kane to score a header – 15/2
  • Skybet Scorecast Boost – Heung-Min Son to score first and Tottenham to win 3-1 – 50/1
  • Skybet Scorecast Boost (Double Chance) – Wilfried Zaha to score first and either Crystal Palace to win 3-1 or Crystal Palace to win 2-1 – 100/1
  • Skybet Featured RequestAbet – Benteke and Kane both to score a header – 80/1
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials Up to 10/1 – Cabaye and Wanyama to be carded – 13/2
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials Up to 10/1 – Kane to score, 6+ Tottenham corners and 20+ Crystal Palace booking points – 7/2
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials 11/1 to 28/1 – Kane and Alli to score, 3+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 14/1
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials 33/1 to 66/1 – Draw, BTTS, 6+ Crystal Palace corners and Puncheon to be carded – 50/1
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials 80/1 and above – Townsend to score, Crystal Palace to win, BTTS and Dembele to be carded – 80/1
  • Skybet RequestAbet Specials 80/1 and above – Alli and Eriksen to score, Ward and Milivojevic to be carded – 125/1
  • Skybet RequestAbet @FootyAccums Special – Zaha & Kane to score and Cabaye, Sakho & Wanyama to be carded – 250/1
  • Skybet Player Card Accumulator – Yohan Cabaye and Victor Wanyama both to be carded – 8/1
  • Skybet To Score and be Carded – Dele Alli to score and be carded – 9/1
  • Skybet Both Players to Score – Harry Kane and Christian Benteke – 9/2

 

Chelsea vs Tottenham – FA Cup Semi-Final Preview

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Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview – 22nd April 2017  
FA Cup Semi Final, Wembley, London

 

This Saturday sees a classic matchup between storied London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham, who currently occupy the top two places on the Premier League table. After a strong start, Chelsea have seen their seemingly insurmountable lead from March dwindle to a mere 4 points over a resurgent Spurs who are playing some of their best football ever of late. While Chelsea have lost 2 of their last 4, Spurs have won seven in a row in convincing fashion. Points and table standings will be cast aside on Saturday, however, when the two rivals meet in The FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium for the chance to play once more at Wembley in May against the winner of Sunday’s Arsenal-Manchester City match.

As in any London Derby, emotions will be running high for the match, and this match has all the requisite components for a true battle on the pitch. There is certainly no love lost between these teams following a physical and emotional matchup last May at Stamford Bridge that ended Spur’s title chances and saw 12 yellow cards and at least one eye-gouging.

Team News

Surely the trophy chases of the last two years will be on the minds of both team’s players and managers as the teams face off in this important semi-final. As can be expected for a mid-April match, both teams are coming in to Wembley with some injury concerns. Tottenham have received a fantastic boost with the return of striker/talisman Harry Kane and defensive-midfield rock Victor Wanyama, and while they are still missing Left Back Danny Rose, they have managed to fill the role nicely with Kieran Tripper and Ben Davis, Chelsea are also relatively healthy, with only Marcos Alonso and Thibaut Courtois in doubt for the match.

 

Kane back to fitness for the semi final Photo Credit: espnfc.com

Spurs will be looking to avenge last season’s draw and to send wobbling Chelsea a message that they are for real. Adding to the drama is Spurs recent terrible form at Wembley Stadium, manager Mauricio Pochettino will have his work cut out for him in convincing his young team that they are in fact capable of taking down the league leaders in a stadium that has haunted them in years past, as well as in this year’s Champion’s league fixtures.

Players to watch

Diego Costa: The mercurial Chelsea striker excels at winding up his opponents, and has had great success at doing so against a young and emotional Spurs team. At his best, he is one of the best goalscorers in the league and he would love nothing more than to rattle the confidence of Tottenham at this critical moment in the season.

Diego Costa could play a huge role in the outcome of the game Photo Credit: dailyexpress.co.uk

Eric Dier: The Tottenham midfielder has seen a recent revival of his goal-scoring form from last season, and is seem by many as the backbone of the Tottenham midfield. How well he, and midfield-mate Dele Alli can keep their composure in the face of Chelsea’s blistering attack and scandalous shenanigans could well decide this match.

 

Suggested Tips:

  • Skybet Price Boost – Diego Costa to score and Chelsea to win in 90 mins – 4/1
  • Skybet Price Boost – Eden Hazard to score first – 13/2
  • Skybet Price Boost – Harry Kane to score and Tottenham to win in 90 mins – 4/1
  • Skybet Scorecast Price Boost – Pedro to score first and Chelsea to win  2-1 – 75/1
  • Skybet Pundits Picks – Charlie Nicholas’ Tips – How Will The Tie Be Decided – Tottenham in Extra Time –14/1
  • Skybet Player Card Accumulators – Diego Costa and Victor Wanyama both to be carded – 6/1
  • Skybet Both players to score – Eden Hazard and Harry Kane both to score in 90 mins – 7/1
  • Skybet Total goals, corners taken and booking points – Over 2.5 Goals, Over 10.5 Corners And Over 35 Bookings Points – 7/2