Tottenham Hotspur need to deal Chelsea a knockout blow- but have they got the strength?
Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Stamford Bridge is looking like being one of the most important games of this season. After the month they have endured, the last thing Spurs want right now is a trip to Chelsea, but they need to lift themselves.
The winner will take the spoils of being energised in the final Premier League push, the loser left to pick up the pieces of a league season which once looked so promising for both sides yet has gone flat.
Tottenham currently sit on 54 points, five ahead of Chelsea, who fell further adrift with their loss to Manchester City in midweek.
Spurs are hardly accelerating ahead from them, picking up just one point out a possible 12.
Yet Rafael van der Vaart’s late equaliser against Stoke City could be crucial when all 38 games are done and dusted.
If Tottenham can win at the Bridge, they will go eight points clear of the Blues. Mind the Gap indeed.
A loss, and suddenly five becomes just two – and Spurs fans will not relish the prospect of looking over their shoulders for the remaining games as they have done in seeing Arsenal’s express train overtake them.
A draw will not be much use to either side, especially with Arsenal odds on to register another victory this weekend, with a home fixture against Aston Villa. So if Tottenham can only draw and Arsenal win, the gap will be increased to three points rather than one.
Chelsea meanwhile, have as much riding on this as Tottenham. Lose, and they can kiss goodbye to Champions League football next season and prepare for the Europa.
Eight points will be too much to overcome, especially considering the bounce it will give Tottenham going into their remaining games.
Tottenham will however be without Emmanuel Adebayor, who remains injured, leaving Harry Redknapp with a choice between Louis Saha and Jermain Defoe. Their defence meanwhile will surely hope they are up against Fernando Torres, rather than Didier Drogba.
Drogba has performed well for Chelsea in the big games this season, especially at Stamford Bridge, while Torres’ selection away at City has been described by some as an error, turning in another goal shy performance.
Roberto di Matteo’s men may have the feelgood factor of a Champions League quarter-final to look forward to, but that should only push Chelsea to work harder to qualify for the competition next season.
Tottenham may currently be feeling down and out, but they need to drag a performance out of themselves, and deliver a big blow to Chelsea, otherwise they may be the ones finding themselves in the Europa spot at the end of the season.
What will the score be tomorrow? Can Tottenham get a win or will their woeful run continue?
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