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The promoted teams have started well this season, and despite being the lowest of the trio, QPR are not struggling to pick up the points. After nine games they are 6 points clear of the drop-zone and are technically closer to Europe than they are to England’s second tier. Their goal this season will naturally be to avoid relegation, and despite some big losses to fellow Championship chasers Bolton and Fulham, have managed to pick up some difficult points against Newcastle, Everton and of course in their previous game against Chelsea.
This result may prove a boost to the players, and could up the volume of the fans early on, yet the performance was far from a frightening one if viewed from a Tottenham perspective. Despite the win, they were playing for most the game with two men extra, yet were dominated in all departments by Chelsea and were lucky to escape with a draw let alone all of the points.
Tottenham on the other hand have really turned a corner since the humiliating 5 – 1 defeat to Man City at home (slightly less humiliating now albeit). The signings of Parker and Adebayor have been perfect for us, and have filled out the little gaps that we had in our game, as of yet undefeated since their signings, only dropping points at St.James Park where we could have even taken all three. While the results have not looked convincing in scoreline, we have dominated pretty much every game since September and should have a much higher goal difference by now.
Key Men:
There has been alot of talk about Adel Taarabt returning against Tottenham – and many would pick him out as a key-man for QPR – but his performances this season have been sub par at best. He is yet to score in the Premier league for QPR or Spurs and has thrown his fair share of toys out of the pram already. Instead I imagine that if anyone is to have an effect on Spurs it will be Joey Barton, and if he can dominate the midfield with some big, tough tackles, otherwise I see QPR being overrun.
For Tottenham I am again going to ignore the obvious in Rafael Van Der Vaart, and while I predict that he will bag an early first half goal, the presence of Parker in midfield will be the reason that we do not lose this game like we may so easily have done last season. Since his signing we have become far more solid, and his performance could present us with a clean-sheet to boot.
Very, Very Specific Prediction…
I predict a Tottenham win, by more than one goal at least, and am going to land on a final score of 3-0. Despite the Man City game, we have not lost in 20 home games and we have had a very good defensive record at home over the last few years. While I expect us to dominate the game, I imagine the goals will come early on, and that we could score more, but the result will be the best one in the end. I also believe that the goals will be scored by Van Der Vaart, Defoe and a midfield player – perhaps Modric.
Tottenham Tattler 