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Next stop for Bolton on their quest for Premier League survival is a trip to Tottenham. Wanderers recorded back-to-back victories for the first time in over a year with a 1-0 triumph at Middlesbrough last time out and a win at White Hart Lane would give them 3 on the spin for the first time in 16 months. Gary Megson's side currently lie one point above the relegation zone and know defeat, followed by draws for both Reading and Birmingham City would put them back in the bottom three. Spurs have faultered in recent weeks, with three 1-1 draws on the run and nothing to play for but pride. They qualified for next season's UEFA Cup by beating Chelsea in the Carling Cup final back in February, but were then knocked out of this season's competition by PSV Eindhoven. Spurs currently sit in 11th position in the Premier League, but are facing competition from Newcastle to finish there, with games running out. Bolton travel to the Lane expecting an onslaught of attacking football from their opponents. Spurs have scored 45 goals in their 17 home league games this season and will be out for more. But after an away victory over another mid-table side last time out, the Trotters will be looking to all but clinch survival on Saturday afternoon. Kevin Davies sits out the final game of his two-match suspension, but may have missed the game anyway with a broken hand. Despite being forced off the field at the Riverside, former Spurs forward Grzegorz Rasiak is expected to continue in the lone striker role, with El-Hadji Diouf dropping back to the bench. Joey O'Brien, who has missed the last few games with a hamstring injury, is back in contention but may have to settle for a place on the bench. Jussi Jaaskelainen is back in training, but the Finnish international will still miss the rest of the campaign, meaning Ali Al-Habsi will have to continue his fine form in goal. As for the hosts, goalkeeper Paul Robinson has overcome an ankle problem and is expected to start ahead of Radek Cerny in goal. Jonathan Woodgate and Pascal Chimbonda are back in contention after ankle and calf injuries respectively, but Ledley King, Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are all out. Robbie Keane, who has an excellent scoring record against Bolton, is expected to start upfront, alongside the threat of Dimitar Berbatov. Bolton will be taking a sold-out allocation of around 1,000 fans to the game after the club repeated the free travel offer that proved so successful at Middlesbrough, lets hope they don't come home disappointed. Squads: Tottenham Hotspur: from: Robinson, Cerny, Forecast, Hutton, Chimbonda, Woodgate, Dawson, Zokora, O'Hara, Lennon, Huddlestone, Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Bent, Berbatov, Tainio, Gilberto, Rocha, Lee, Kaboul, Boateng, Taarabt, Gunter. Bolton Wanderers: from: Al Habsi, Steinsson, A O'Brien, Cahill, Samuel, Nolan, Cohen, Campo, McCann, Taylor, Rasiak, Diouf, Guthrie, Stelios, Fojut, J O'Brien, Alonso, Helguson, Walker. Referee: Mark Clattenburg Burnden Aces prediction: 2-1 |
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