SPURS CAN WHIP YOUNG BOYS

YOUNG BOYS … it's not a name that strikes fear into teams.

And even though Spurs are Champions League rookies they should be the men in this tie tonight. The White Hart Lane men have been dreaming about reaching the elite tournament and are 180 minutes away from the promised land. Standing between them and glory are Young Boys and the Swiss side are likely to be timed out.

Spurs have players in the shape of Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane, Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon who have performed on the biggest stages and I don't expect them to freeze in Berne. Bookies certainly agree and best you can get on Spurs to qualify is 1-5 with Blue Square.

Harry Redknapp's men look tremendous value at 3-4 with 888sport and totesport to win on the artificial turf in Switzerland. Young Boys are as big as 4-1 with Paddy Power to go through and 4-1 with William Hill, Coral and Ladbrokes to win at home.

Only the heroics of Joe Hart denied Spurs a perfect start to their Premier League campaign against Manchester City at the weekend and they look in good shape. The gulf between Spurs and the Swiss is massive and I expect the Londoners to win away tonight and make the return a formality.

Young Boys did magnificently to knock out Fenerbahce in the last round, winning 1-0 in Turkey after a 2-2 draw at home. Their goal hero in Istanbul was Henri Bienvenu was and he is 10-1 with Bet365 to score first. But I'll be siding with England striker Jermain Defoe who must be hungry to get off the mark. I'm taking him at a best 5-1 with 888sport to net first. Robbie Keane is 6-1 with Stan James but check team news to see if he Roman Pavlyuchenko or Peter Crouch starts. Aaron Lennon is decent each-way value at 14-1 with Blue Square and 888sport.

The Swiss score plenty and concede loads so consider both teams to score at 3-4 with Bet365.

Paddy Power make Spurs' most likely stage of elimination the group stages at 11-10 and a last-16 KO is 3-1.

Exclusively for the game the wacky compilers at the Irish bookies are bringing back one of their most popular novelty bets from Euro 2008 – who will be pulled off first at the Wankdorf Stadium? Crouch and Defoe lead the first Spurs substitution market at 4-1 with Lennon 11-2. Wonder if Abbey Clancy will have a wee flutter on Crouchie?

Pick of the bunch from tonight's other ties could be Zenit St Petersburg who tackle Auxerre at home. The Russians, 2008 UEFA Cup winners, are strong at home and should be backed at 4-6 with Ladbrokes.

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