Fixture Focus–Spurs (EPL, 25 February 2013)

West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspur

Stay away from the lasagne!

Who can forget the match in May of 2006 where Spurs, on the brink finishing fourth in the league and reaching the Champions League playoffs, lost to the Hammers because of food poisoning affecting many of the starting players. I am sure we will take serious measures to prevent this from ever happening again.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has confirmed that defenders James Collins and Joey O’Brien are back in training, and could return to the side which hosts Spurs on Monday. George McCartney is still on the road to recovery from a knee injury, and will not take part in this round of Premier League matches. Meanwhile, Lloris should return for us after being left out of Thursday’s Europa League draw at his old club Lyon. Striker Jermain Defoe is expected to return to training next week, so will not be considered for this local derby against his former club. Younes Kaboul, Sandro and Tom Huddlestone are all unavailable.

Spurs are also on a five game unbeaten away run, and have the second best record on the road in the division. History suggests that we are favourites, as we have won three of the last five league meetings between the two sides. And with the Hammers having only won two games in 2013, both coming at home, against Norwich City and Swansea City, we may just edge this game.

I hope to see the rest of the team stepping up and performing at the level that Bale has been delivering. Fourth place is a tight race and 3 points will put us in a confident frame of mind for next weekend’s London derby with Arsenal.