Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
With Leicester just managing to salvage a draw after their encounter with West Ham yesterday Afternoon it has presented Tottenham with an opportunity to close the gap at the top to 5 points with then just 4 games left to play.
Tottenham travel to The Britannia Stadium knowing that a win this evening will just start to question whether Leicester can last the distance and see the challenge out as we approach the final furlong of this title race. Leicester are still obviously the favourites but Tottenham have to keep winning and keep the pressure up on Claudio Ranieri’s side
Their hosts Stoke currently find themselves in 9th in the Premier League table, regardless of Tonight’s result that won’t change but defeat would all but kill off any slim hopes they may have had of earning a Europa League place for next season.
Since losing Jack Butland to injury they have failed to win their last two matches, last time out they were comfortably beating by Liverpool at Anfield. It was a 4-1 reverse that day and if they aren’t careful you get the feeling that their season could fizzle out in these last 5 games
I think if Stoke can get a top 10 finish then the season will be a relative success but after injuries to Ryan Shawcross and Jack Butland seemingly proving costly Mark Hughes may be thinking what might have been.
Mauricio Pochettino won’t want to even contemplate that question until May 15th when the season comes to a close, between now and that last Sunday every game for Tottenham is a must win game for Tottenham it is as simple as that
If their title credentials are going to be boosted then they need to take full advantage of Leicester’s slip yesterday. The pressure is no doubt on them as they continually play after Leicester each week but they could have been looking at a 10 point gap Today, so with the gap being 8 then their is certainly extra impetus for a win tonight.
Last time out it looked like if was going to be a frustrating Afternoon at White Hart Lane as Manchester United held them at bay for over an hour but then 6 minutes of madness bought a trio of goals as they ended up comfortably strolling to a 3-0 win
Not only is their the title race there is also the personal battle for the Golden Boot with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy now both tied on 22 goals. That in itself is all the more the reason for Kane to find the net this evening and pull clear at the top of the goalscorers table.
Tonight’s game for Spurs is a must win, there’s no other way to look at it. Stoke will no doubt miss Butland through injury and you get the feeling their season may just have tailed off. I reckon it’s going to be tight but Spurs to take full advantage and take three points to close the gap to 5 points and apply the pressure on Leicester. An away win for me.
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