Match Preview: Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur (is another win on the cards?)
Stadium: Elland Road on 8 May at 12.30pm.
Last week we faced bottom of the table Sheffield United and won 4-0. This week we take a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, who are in 11th place, 5 places below us. There is also a gap of 9 pts between both teams.
A brief history of Leeds United.
Leeds United Football Club was formed in 1919 following Leeds City’s disbanding and took over their Elland Road stadium. Most of their history has been spent competing in the first tier of English football. Their most prolonged continuous spell inside the first tier was 18 years between 1964 and 1982, while their most extended period outside of it spanned 16 years between 2004 and 2020. They have won three English league titles (the old Division one title), one FA Cup, one League Cup, two Charity/Community Shields and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups. The club reached the 1975 European Cup Final, losing to Bayern Munich. Leeds reached the semi-finals of the tournament’s successor, the Champions League, in 2001. The club were also runners-up in the European Cup Winners Cup final in 1973. The majority of the honours were won under their most famous manager, Don Revie, in the 1960s and 1970s.
On 17 July 2020, after 16 years out of the Premier League, Leeds were promoted back to the Premier League following West Bromwich Albion’s loss to Huddersfield Town. Stoke City’s defeat of Brentford the following day confirmed they would go up as winners of the Championship. Leeds United had been in the top 2 for most of the season and had never dropped lower than 5th in the table, eventually finishing 10 points clear of West Bromwich Albion in 2nd.
Under Mason
Under Ryan Mason, we haven’t lost a league match, however, we were beaten in the Final of the League Cup Final by Manchester City (we only conceded one goal). Against United, young Mason hopes to make it a hat-trick of Premier League wins. We also need to beat them if we wish to have any hope of finishing in the top four.
Others need to drop points.
On Friday, we see the Foxes take on the Toons, while Manchester City take on Chelski at Etihad Stadium the following day (Saturday). Liverpool face the Saints in an evening kick-off. And on Sunday, the Spammers are at home against the Toffee chewers. So we all should be cheering for City, the Saints and either a draw or a Toffee chewer win. Not too much to ask for. But first, we must beat Leeds and beat them convincingly.
To the match
TEAM NEWS
Leeds United
Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha will be assessed as they seek to recover from their respective knee and thigh problems. Captain Liam Cooper returns from a three-match suspension, but winger Helder Costa has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Spurs
Ryan Mason is without Ben Davies because of a calf injury. Apart from that, Mason has a fully-fit squad at his disposal.
My thoughts and prediction
Leeds were inadequate in their defeat at Brighton last week when they missed injured duo Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha. Both of them are doubtful for this game, which could benefit us.
I fancy Harry Kane and Son to both score, along with Bale. However, Leeds are going to be more formidable opposition than the Blades. If Mason can keep the three frontmen together, then I think we can win and win big.
When we last met Leeds in the Premier League (at home), we soundly beat them 3-0. My prediction is that we will beat them by three goals or more. What is for sure, though, we can’t afford to let this game slip otherwise, we could kiss a top-four place goodbye.
Prediction: 0-3+
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Leeds have only earned one point from their past six Premier League games against us, having won the previous six meetings between 1999 and 2001.
Our current three-match winning streak against Leeds in the league is our longest in this fixture.
We are aiming for back-to-back league victories at Elland Road for the first time since October 1979.
Leeds are hosting us for the first time since January 2013, when they won 2-1 in an FA Cup tie.
Leeds United
Leeds are without a win in all nine of their Premier League home fixtures this season against teams currently above them in the table (D5, L4).
All five of their home league matches so far against established top-six opposition in 2020-21 ended in a draw.
There were 86 goals in Leeds’ first 25 Premier League fixtures this season, but only 16 in the past nine games.
They have lost seven of their past eight Premier League matches without Kalvin Phillips.
The age difference of 35 years and 327 days between head coach Marcelo Bielsa and Tottenham counterpart Ryan Mason is the second biggest in Premier League history, after Bobby Robson and Chris Coleman (37 years and 112 days).
Tottenham Hotspur
Ryan Mason aims to become the first manager or coach to win his opening three Premier League matches in charge of our club.
We have scored in 11 successive league games, the longest current run in the competition. Only Manchester City have scored in more top-flight fixtures this season than the 28 by us.
We have only won three of our past 13 Premier League away matches.
Eric Dier is one short of 200 Premier League appearances.
All nine of Gareth Bale’s Premier League goals in 2020-21 have been scored at home and against teams currently in the bottom eight of the table.
A bit of Gooners ridicule!
But let us end on some Gooners news (a team that can cheer any Spurs fan up… that is providing the good is their bad). Arsenal failed to score against Villarreal at Emirates Stadium on Thursday and are now out of this season’s European competition. While we are still challenging for a place in the European Champions League, we will make the Europa league if we should fail in our quest for a top-four spot. The Gooners, on the other hand, could find themselves out of European football for the first time in 26 years.
Emery, Villarreal manager, was previously Gooners’ manager, and who was sacked by them; I bet he is smiling from cheek to cheek after his victory.
So, that is it, and let us wish Mason good luck and keep our fingers crossed… Is there a new dawn about to erupt at Tottenham as we wait for a new manager – whoever he is –to be appointed?
It is finally here, a new super book about the greats, Glories and all you want to know about the Tottenham great players (we are not worthy!) who have graced White Hart Lane and beyond. Sixty years ago this month the Greatest Football club in the world won the double with probably the greatest team on this planet.
Has your eye’s seen the Glory? If yes (or even no) click HERE and follow the link, then they/ you will, and for those that are longer in the tooth (in other words, old like me)… be prepared to be dazzled all over again!
COYS!
All the best, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
