Spurs v Sunderland: Can Spurs pip Arsenal to fourth?


With 10 games to go Spurs were in the driving seat for a place in the top four. Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal had all played 28 games and AVB's men were two clear of Chelsea and seven ahead of Arsenal. However, today they enter the final game of the season a point behind the Gunners, needing Wenger's men to slip up away at Newcastle and for themselves to see off Paolo Di Canio's Sunderland.
Their fate is out of their hands but anything can happen on the final day of the season.
Spurs have only lost to the Black Cats at home once during the Premier League era and the general consensus is that the hosts will run out winners today. They are unbeaten in their past nine league and cup outings and the power of Gareth Bale should ensure they do their part this afternoon.
Sunderland have limped to survival in recent weeks and have to thank Arsenal for beating Wigan in midweek to guarantee them a stress-free final day. After smashing Newcastle 3-0 and then seeing off Everton everyone thought the Black Cats would end the season on a high, but that has not been the case. Villa hit them for six and they picked up crucial points against Southampton and Stoke. But with the pressure off, can the players prove to Di Canio that they deserve to be there next season?
Spurs have not been prolific in front of goal at home this season, but they don't need to be. One goal is all it will take to give them their much-needed three points. All eyes will be on events in the north east. Could Newcastle come to Tottenham's rescue?
Spurs v Sunderland; Kick Off 4pm May 19 2013
Prediction Panel
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
3 |
V |
1 |
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
3 |
V |
0 |
Chelsea |
Apoorva Ankur |
1 |
V |
2 |
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
1 |
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
2 |
V |
1 |
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
2 |
V |
1 |
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
3 |
V |
1 |
Man United |
Peter Johnstone |
3 |
V |
1 |
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
1 |
V |
0 |
Norwich |
Sue Read |
4 |
V |
0 |
QPR |
John Jaycock |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Reading |
Jon Keen |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
0 |
V |
2 |
Stoke City |
Peter Holland |
2 |
V |
1 |
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
3 |
V |
1 |
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
2 |
V |
0 |
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
2 |
V |
1 |
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
2 |
V |
0 |
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
2 |
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
2 |
V |
0 |
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
0 |
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
2 |
V |
0 |
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
2 |
V |
0 |
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
2 |
V |
0 |
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
2 |
V |
0 |
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
3 |
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
3 |
V |
1 |
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
3 |
V |
0 |
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
2 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Home win.
Home: 23; Draw: 1; Away: 3. TBA 7.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
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