Fixture Focus - Spurs (27 November 2008)

NEC Nijmegen vs Spurs (UEFA Cup, Group D)

On paper, this match looks like a walk in the park.  And that's why Spurs must be extra careful.

NEC has never won a major tournament and has only played European football 4 times in its history.  They do not have international stars in their lineup and lost their first group tie at Dinamo Zagreb.  But they do have a Spurs connection in a 22-year old midfielder named Lorenzo Davids, who is a close relative of former Spurs midfielder Edgar Davids.

Spurs performed superbly in their previous UEFA Cup tie and thrashed Dinamo Zagreb 4-0 at home. But injuries to key players are not helping our already stretched squad.  King is probably rested and Modric and Hutton are injured.  Corluka is cup-tied which then limits our defensive options.  Dawson will probably start and perhaps Zokora or Gunter will also be part of the back four as we aim to keep a clean sheet away from home.  Let's also hope that "calamity Gomes" do not gift NEC any goals unnecessarily.  Upfront, Pavlyuchenko can't play and so it will be up to Bent to find the back of the net.  Coming away with a loss would be a disaster for our UEFA Cup campaign as we need to keep pace with group leaders Udinese.

COYS!!!