Tottenham harboured hopes of qualifying for the Champions League after spending over £100m on new players but with four games to go they have a battler on their hands to qualify for the Europa League. Their inability to compete with the top sides in the division have been their undoing their throughout the season, losing both home and away to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. They can still finish fourth, mathematically, but realistically the seven point’s difference between themselves and Arsenal, who currently occupy the final Champions League spot, looks too big a gap with so few games left. Their aim has to be fighting off the late challenge of Manchester United for sixth spot, they hold a narrow advantage of three points but have played a game more and have a vastly inferior goal difference so they know they have a battle on their hands if they wish to play in Europe next season.
Two weeks ago I had written off Fulham’s chances of staying up but they have managed to put back to back victories together and are now favourites to survive over Sunderland, Cardiff and Norwich – whom they were successful against last weekend. They still remain two points behind that rival (with a far worse goal difference) but they do look to have an easier run in and if they can even manage one more win then they will stand an excellent chance of staying up. Having managed just one win in their previous fourteen, to go and win consecutive victories – both against sides also battling to stay up – is a huge effort and looks like it could preserve their Premier League status for another season. Felix Magath was bullish when asked if he could lead his new club to survival and it’s looking like his belief is well founded.
Spurs welcomed another side in the bottom three to in their most recent home game and duly thumped them 5-1, despite going a goal behind. In their last league game they were three goals down to West Brom away from home only to recover and rescue a point with the very last kick of the ball. There’s no doubt that the football has been entertaining under Tim Sherwood but they have conceded far too many goals which is one of the reasons why the current manager will not be in charge come the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign.
Hugo Rodallega has been the unlikely hero for Fulham in their two wins, scoring the winner in both games. Having been basically frozen out under previous managers, the Colombian has grasped the chance given to him by the current boss and he is more than repaying that faith. His winner against Villa two weeks ago was his first of the campaign which indicates how much of a peripheral figure he has been. If he can add a couple more goals between now and the end of the season it would be most welcomed by all at Craven Cottage.
Not only is this a crucial match for both sides as they look to gain points for their own, very different causes, it’s also a London derby with plenty of pride at stake. Fulham have the joint worst away record in terms of goals conceded whilst Tottenham’s last six games have yielded 26 goals. Both sides are better on the front foot and conditions should be perfect for an open game.
Over 2.5 goals 4/7 @ Skybet
