Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. West Bromwich Albion

Sports Mole previews Monday's Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham Hotspur will hope for a favour from Swansea City this weekend as Mauricio Pochettino's side prepare to welcome West Bromwich Albion to White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Monday night.

As it stands, the capital side sit second in the table - five points behind the leaders Leicester City with four games left. A slip-up from the Foxes against Swansea, however, would allow Spurs to close the gap to two points with three to play in the top flight.

West Brom, meanwhile, have secured another season of Premier League football, but they will enter the match off the back of a five-game winless run, which includes a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Thursday night.


Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino applauds after the Premier League game between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur on April 18, 2016© Getty Images

Tottenham will need Leicester to slip up in the final weeks if they are to lift the Premier League title this season, but the capital club are keeping to their end of the bargain as they continue to put points on the board.

Since losing 1-0 at West Ham United at the start of March, Spurs have put together a six-game unbeaten run in the league, which has included four victories. Indeed, Pochettino's side followed up a 3-0 win over Manchester United on April 10 with a thumping 4-0 victory at Stoke City on Monday night to keep themselves in the hunt.

Spurs are still five off Leicester with four games to play, but any slip from the league leaders this weekend would hand the London club the perfect chance to close the gap. Pochettino's side will be the strong favourites to overcome West Brom, but they must then travel to London rivals Chelsea at the start of next month.

Home to Southampton is Spurs' penultimate league game of the season, before the title challengers finish away to Newcastle United, who might well need to win to stay in the division. Leicester also have a very tough run, however, and there is expected to be a couple more twists and turns before all is said and done in this incredible Premier League season.

Not only have Spurs scored the most goals in the Premier League this season (64), they have the best defensive record, having only conceded 25 times in their 34 matches. Only Leicester have won more games in the top flight this term and even if Spurs do not win the league, second spot and a return to the Champions League would represent an excellent campaign.

Tottenham have won 10 of their 17 home league games this season, only losing twice in the process. They have also only lost one of their last 12 Premier League games against West Brom on home soil and will be confident of putting another three points on the board on Monday night.

Recent form: DWWDWW
Recent form (all competitions): WLWDWW


West Brom

Tony Pulis prior to the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Watford on April 16, 2016© Getty Images

West Brom will again play Premier League football next season after reaching 40 points, but it remains to be seen whether the Baggies will improve on their performance in the 2014-15 campaign, when they finished 13th.

Since returning to the Premier League for the 2010-11 season, West Brom have finished 11th, 10th, eighth, 17th and 13th and with four games left to play this season, Tony Pulis's side currently sit in 15th position in the table.

They are 10 points clear of the relegation zone and actually only four points off the top 10, but they are falling after a run of five league games without a win. The Baggies have not collected all the points in a league match since beating Manchester United at the start of March and will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on Thursday night.

Pulis's side will welcome top-four chasing West Ham United to The Hawthorns next weekend, before travelling to Bournemouth in their penultimate league game of the season. Their campaign will then end at home to Liverpool and there is a danger that the Baggies could slide into 16th position and ultimately finish just outside of the bottom three.

Only Aston Villa (23) have scored fewer than West Brom's 31 league goals this season, but they have only conceded 42 times, which is a better record than both West Ham and Liverpool.

West Brom's model relies on Premier League football and while they will once again participate in the top flight next term, there is some unrest among the supporters, many of whom are struggling to see any sort of progression this season.

Recent form: WLDLLL


Team News

Eric 'razor' Dier congratulates Dele Alli during the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on April 10, 2016© Getty Images

Spurs boss Pochettino has no fresh injury concerns from the win over Stoke last time out and it is unlikely that the Argentine will change a winning team.

Jan Vertonghen has showed no signs of struggling after a long lay-off and the Belgian will continue in defence alongside Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.

Harry Kane, meanwhile, who has scored three goals in three appearances against West Brom, will go in search of his 50th Premier League goal. The England international is currently on 48 in the top flight - 24 of which have come this season.

As for West Brom, Pulis is expected to make changes from the defeat at Arsenal.

Jonas Olsson, Salomon Rondon and Craig Gardner are all pushing for returns to the XI after coming off the bench against the Gunners and Olsson's introduction could see Jonny Evans switch to the left-back role ahead of James Chester.

Saido Berahino is also expected to face the club who had two bids turned down for him in last summer's transfer window.

Tottenham possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele, Dier; Lamela, Alli, Eriksen; Kane

West Brom possible starting lineup:
Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Fletcher, Yacob, Gardner; Berahino, Rondon, Sessegnon


Head To Head

Overall, these two clubs have locked horns on 140 occasions in all competitions. Spurs have recorded 55 wins, West Brom 52, while the remaining 33 matches have finished level.

In terms of the recent meetings - the two teams played out a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns in the reverse match earlier this season, while West Brom actually won 1-0 at White Hart Lane last term. Indeed, that success for West Brom was their first in 12 Premier League games away to Spurs.

Meanwhile, three of the last five Premier League meetings between Spurs and West Brom have been drawn.


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We say: Tottenham 2-0 West Brom

It is difficult to imagine West Brom causing Spurs too many problems on Monday night. The Baggies are already safe from the drop this season and most of their players already have their flip-flops on. It is a nice game for Spurs and we are backing the home side to continue their title challenge with a comfortable success.


Who will win Monday's Premier League clash in London?

Tottenham
Draw
West Brom
Tottenham
77.1%
Draw
16.4%
West Brom
6.4%
Leicester City duo Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez celebrate during a Premier League game on November 21, 2015
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester362211364343077
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs361913467283970
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Manchester CityMan City361971068383064
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd35179943311260
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham351514660431759
7Southampton361691153391457
8Liverpool3515101059481155
9Chelsea351212115548748
10Stoke CityStoke36139143852-1448
11Everton351014115549644
12Watford35128153642-644
13Swansea CitySwansea361110153750-1343
14West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom361011153246-1441
15Bournemouth36118174363-2041
16Crystal Palace36109173646-1039
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3689193964-2533
18Sunderland35711174058-1832
19Norwich CityNorwich3587203561-2631
RAston Villa3637262772-4516