Spurs ready to bounce back by beating Wolves at Molineux

Premier League
Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 7.45pm Saturday

There has been a lot of criticism of Tottenham over the last week but the Londoners have not lost to a newly promoted side in 38 matches and should defeat Wolves at Molineux.

Since Harry Redknapp's Spurs lost 1-0 at QPR in April 2012, the Lilywhites have won 35 and drawn three of their matches against clubs who made the step up to the Premier League in the previous summer.

Wolves are widely regarded as one of the strongest sides to come out of the Sky Bet Championship and won a lot of admirers with their 1-1 draws at home to Manchester City and at Manchester United.

However, they go into the Spurs game following losses at home to Watford (2-0) and away to Brighton (1-0) and look poor value at just 12-5.

A lot of the negativity attached to Spurs has been linked to the delay in completing their new stadium but results have not been too shabby.

Tottenham's 21-point tally after ten games is higher than in any of the previous four seasons under Mauricio Pochettino and it has been achieved despite a tough set of fixtures.

Six of their matches have been on the road and two of the four home fixtures have been against the top two – Manchester City and Liverpool.

Both were defeats but there were positives to take from Monday's 1-0 loss to City.

Pochettino's side made the worst possible start – conceding inside six minutes – but grew into the game and finished strongly with substitutes Harry Winks, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen making positive impacts.

Alli and Eriksen have been key players in transforming Spurs from a top-six club to Champions League regulars and their recent spells on the sidelines have been tough to absorb.

However, they started together for the first time in more than eight weeks as Spurs won 3-1 at West Ham in the EFL Cup fourth round on Wednesday and their availability looks like bad news for Wolves' hopes of springing a surprise.

Wolves, handily placed in tenth, performed well enough in the loss at Brighton last Saturday, winning the shot count 25 to seven.
But it was far from the first time that Wolves had lacked a clinical touch in front of goal and their modest nine-goal tally is the lowest among the top 12 teams in the division.

Mexican striker Raul Jimenez leads their scoring charts with two goals but has never been prolific and there may be a case for investing in a more reliable goalscorer during the January transfer window.

Wolves' strength is in midfield.

Joao Moutinho - a one-time Spurs transfer target – and Ruben Neves have struck up a good partnership, allowing Wolves to dictate the majority of their fixtures.

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They could have a decent share of the ball against Spurs but games in the Premier League are usually won and lost in the penalty boxes and that is where the visitors look stronger.

A lot of Wolves' focus will be on stopping Harry Kane.
But Alli and Eriksen are also major goal threats and Pochettino has the option of calling on Erik Lamela (five goals this season) or Son Heung-Min, who will be full of confidence after his midweek brace at West Ham.

Spurs' options in attack are greater than that of their opponents and the opportunity to back Pochettino's men at odds-against is too good to miss.

Recommendation
Tottenham
2pts 13-10 bet365, Betway

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Wolves
Ten Wolves players have started every league game this season but manager Nuno Espirito Santo may have a rethink after successive defeats. No fresh injuries are reported.

Tottenham
Danny Rose (groin), Jan Vertonghen (hamstring), Eric Dier (thigh) and Victor Wanyama (knee) are ruled out.

Key stat
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 38 matches against newly promoted teams.

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