Leaky defence means more goals in QPR’s clash with Wigan
QPR face Wigan in Saturday’s late kick-off in a bid to resurrect their survival mission. Harry Redknapp’s side gifted Fulham three points last time out with a defensive performance that was hugely worrying at this stage of the season.
It’s been a long time since QPR secured back-to-back clean sheets and they’ve not managed one in their past six league outings. They have lost four of those matches and have conceded 14 times during that run. In the past two games they have conceded six times against Aston Villa and Fulham.
The reverse fixture at the DW Stadium finished 2-2 to maintain the run of high scoring games between the clubs. QPR and Wigan have met three times in the Premier League and the average number of goals currently stands at 3.3.
Spurs can pile pressure on Steve Kean
Tottenham’s season is threatening to fall to pieces as the 1-0 defeat at QPR left them three points off Newcastle – who currently occupy the final Champions League spot. Spread bettors that have bought Spurs’ Championship Index will be praying that Harry Redknapp can side get his up for one final push for the fourth place as time runs out.
Blackburn are next to visit White Hart Lane and they finally ended a run of five straight defeats by beating Norwich 2-0 last weekend at Ewood Park. Rovers’ spread supporters won’t need reminding that they have lost five times in their past six away league games. There’s also further concerns for anyone buying the visitor’s win index as they have a shocking recent record against Spurs.
Spurs have won their previous five games against Blackburn and they lost 4-2 on their most recent visit to White Hart Lane.
North London derby promises more fireworks
There’s so much good sport on over the weekend that it’s hard to know which way to look. As the Six Nations gathers pace, the Premier League returns and one game stands out in particular - Arsenal versus Tottenham.
A 4-0 defeat at the San Siro and a 2-0 loss at Sunderland means the Gunners look set to finish a seventh consecutive season without a trophy. As it stands the Gunners occupy the final Champions League place, but they’ll need to make vast improvements if they’re to hold on to it.
Spurs slipped up at the weekend in the FA Cup following a goalless draw with Stevenage, but with no European commitments – a home replay isn’t the end of the world. North London derbies have produced some superb games down the years and the last meeting at the Emirates certainly fell in that category. Spurs fought back from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 on their last visit to Arsenal and Harry Redknapp’s 2-1 victory earlier in the campaign was the third successive game without defeat against their rivals.
With two attack-minded sides it’s no surprise to find that goals have been a feature of North London derbies. The past six Arsenal v Tottenham matches have all seen at least three goals and the average total during that time is 4.2.
Can underdogs continue run in FA Cup?
Stevenage and Crawley Town are the two lowest placed clubs in the fifth round draw and both will harbour big ambitions of an FA Cup upset over the weekend. League One’ Stevenage welcome highflying Tottenham to Broadhall Way, while League Two’s Crawley make the daunting trip to the Britannia.
Crawley reached this stage of the competition on the back of four straight wins and punters interested in the match supremacy market might like to know that each win was to nil. Stevenage followed suit and also reached the fifth round without needing a replay and without conceding a goal in the process.
Tottenham are strong favourites to end Stevenage’s run, but Harry Redknapp knows all too well about cup upsets from his time at Portsmouth in particular. The hosts have averaged two goals per game in their past six league games, while Spurs have only won twice in their past six away league outings.
Don’t expect red mist at the Lane
After Manchester United dropped two points at St James’ Park last night, Arsenal will feel their title charge is not quite over yet. Up next are arch-rivals Spurs though.
It's a huge game for Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham at White Hart Lane this evening and they will relish the opportunity to wreak further havoc on their Arsenal's season. Spurs last did the double over Arsenal in 1992/93, but they have an opportunity to do it again tonight.
The North London derby is always a high-intensity battle, but some will be surprised to learn that the last red card came four matches ago, as Emmanuel Eboue was given his marching orders. In fact, the four most recent derbies have been fairly uneventful. The highest bookings index total in this time was 50, when these two clubs clashed in the Carling Cup in September.
The lowest total make-up came at the Emirates in the 2009/10 campaign when only two yellow cards were handed out. The average bookings total in the past four clashes is just 37.5 points.
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