SPURS need to avoid defeat in the London derby to have the capital bragging rights over Christmas.
Chelsea haven't won at White Hart Lane for six years and I'd have fancied a full-strength Spurs.
But boss Harry Redknapp is without Aaron Lennon and has doubts over Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor.
If Bale and Lennon don't make it the Spurs' hopes of attacking Chelsea down the flanks will be out of the window and they may struggle to break down their opponents.
The Blues have been hit and miss this season. Their inconsistency was summed up by beating Man City then drawing at Wigan days later.
So you're never sure which Chelsea will turn up but I've a feeling it will be tense and tight so a draw at 5-2 with Ladbrokes and Chander could be the call.
Spurs are a biggest 13-8 with William Hill with while Chelsea are 7-4 with the likes of Paddy Power and Coral.
In the absence of Defoe and possibly Adebayor there could be a start for Roman Pavyluchenko who netted the only goal against Sunderland at the weekend but for a Spurs' goal I'd side with Luka Modric who is 14-1 (various) to net first and 5-1 at Paddy Power and Blue Square to score at any time.
For Chelsea the most likely man these days is Daniel Sturridge and he is 8-1 at Ladbrokes to follow his cracker at Wigan. He's netted eight times this season, twice more than Didier Drogba.
Hopefully it will be a capital cracker but although the fixture gives the sense of a high scorer there hasn't been one since a 4-4 draw in March 2008.
The last six matches have produced 14 goals so it's right on the 2.5 average. I'm going against the trend and backing under 2.5 at 21-10 with William Hill in the hope it's a 1-1 draw. Over 2.5 is 11-10 with Blue Square while both teams to score pays 8-13 (various).
Spurs v Chelsea predictions
Correct score: 1-1
(13-2, William Hill)
First scorer: Sturridge
(8-1, Ladbrokes)
Anytime scorer: Modric
(5-1, Blue Square, Paddy Power)
Under 2.5 goals
(21-20, William Hill)
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Since both teams have problems in defense may be both teams to score is best option. Anyway are you sure that all these important players of Spurs are sidelined ?
I didn’t say anyone but Lennon was sidelined. I said the others including Bale were doubts but called it right with the 1-1
Hi Paul,
Went for Raul Merieles to score last at 20/1. Was a mistake though haha meant to be anytime but ah well.
Dave