Spurs need another strong defensive performance, this time against Newcastle United if they are to pick up three points.
Liverpool gave Tottenham’s defence a real test on Monday night, but this weekend they should face an even tougher challenge.
Now it is not only Demba Ba they will face, but Papiss Cisse who struck a superb winner against Villa last Sunday.
Spurs sit in third on 50 points, five behind second placed Manchester United.
They are eight points above Newcastle in fifth, but if they lose they risk being sucked into the battle for Champions League spots, whereas if they win, they will stake a major claim in already having one secured.
Their next two games are away to Arsenal and at home to Manchester United so picking up points is crucial.
Newcastle by contrast have Wolves next at home, a match they should win, and it is not inconceivable that the Magpies could significantly close the gap with back-to-back wins.
Demba Ba has scored 16 goals already this season and will be instrumental if Newcastle are to get points this weekend.
When the two sides met at St James Park earlier in the season, Newcastle were fortunate to get away with a 2-2 draw after twice going behind.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermaine Defoe both scored that day, but at present the Togo striker is out of form, 13 hours without a goal, and Defoe has been nursing niggling injuries.
Defoe is again an injury doubt, along with Van der Vaart and Kaboul, both absences presenting their own problems for Spurs.
Newcastle have problems of their own with Cabaye suspended and Ryan Taylor out injured.
The match will also be billed as a match of potential England managers, even though Pardew very sensibly ruled himself out of the running, curtailing any further speculation.
Newcastle have won four of their last five games, but will need no reminder about what happened on their most recent trip to London, a 5-2 loss to Fulham.
Who do you think will win this evening’s big game?
image: © Shiraz Chakera
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