Tottenham v Man United Prediction 20th January 2013

Tottenham v Man United Betting Preview
Tottenham have been one of just a few clubs who have gotten any change out of Manchester United this season. The Lilywhites rolled into Old Trafford at the end of September last year, and totally against the odds given their poor Premier League history against the Red Devils, Andre Villas-Boas’s men inflicted a 3-2 defeat on the home side. There hasn’t been much to stop the Manchester United juggernaut this season and since that defeat they have dropped just four points. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will be strong favourites to go out and get some revenge.

Tottenham v Man United Betting Odds at online bookmaker Paddy Power
Man United 13/10, Spurs 2/1, Draw 12/5

Tottenham v Man United Recommended Bet:
It was a strong first half at Old Trafford which set Spurs up for their win over Man United earlier in the season, they may need more of the same. However, Tottenham have been a better second half team in general this season, than they have a first half team. Even though they have a great rate of scoring first in 14 of their 22 league matches, Spurs have scored 72% of all their goals in the second half of matches. It actually speaks well to their defensive set up and their ability to steady the ship early in matches before pressing down on the gas pedal. Most of the first half of Tottenham’s season was blighted by conceding late goals in matches (they have conceded ten league goals in the last  fifteen minutes of matches this term). However, defensively they have improved lately, keeping four clean sheets in their last six league matches.

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six in the league, losing just one of their last ten in the top flight. They have also taken four wins from their last five home matches. So they are in very good form and looking a confident side. Improvement of defence is going to be crucial for them, as they have only scored at a rate of 1.5 goals per game at White Hart Lane this season, just an average rate (they have a better return from their away matches). They will need all the form and positives they can carry into this match because they have not beaten the Red Devils on home soil since the 2000/01 Premier League season. So it has been eleven long home matches since they last defeated United in any competition in London. They could be good for a draw though as they have taken three draws away from their last five home matches against United. The pace at which Spurs play at could be the key in this one. United’s defence can be vulnerable and while the aerial threat of Emmanuel Adebayor isn’t there (away on Africa Cup of Nations duty) the creativity that Spurs have through the middle of the park could swing things in their favour in search of a league double over United this season.

United just continue to be in impeccable form. In their last ten league matches, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have dropped just two points. They keep scoring and in just two of their last ten games have United failed to score more than one goal in the game. It has been a tremendous return from Robin van Persie in his first season at the club, netting seventeen league goals and he will naturally be the big threat to the Spurs defence. In his Arsenal days, Van Persie netted five goals in fifteen matches against Tottenham, but provided four assists. It is against Tottenham that RVP has provided the most assists against in his career (jointly with Everton).

The Reds held on against Liverpool in their last league match, looking comfortable for two thirds of the game before Liverpool starting pushing hard. Even though United don’t look the most solid side at the back, they have conceded just one goal in their last three now. The Red Devils have been experts at closing out matches this season. In the last thirty minutes of Premier League games this season, United have scored 31 goals and have conceded just five. So even hanging on to a lead against them is a tough thing to do. With them currently on a tremendous ten match unbeaten streak, and having won fourteen of their last sixteen in the top flight, they will still be favourites, even away from home. There should be goals in this one and a 2-2 Correct Score is trading well at 14/1 with online bookmaker Paddy Power, with their Money Back Special in place on the match as well (see below).

Form
Spurs DWWWWD, Man United DWWWDW

Stat Attack
United haven’t lost at White Hart Lane in their last eleven visits there
Tottenham have scored first in 14 of their 22 league games this term
Spurs have scored 72% of all their goals in the second half of games this season
United have dropped just two points out of the last possible 30 available
Tottenham have won four and drawn one of their last five home games

Online bookmaker Promotion
There is coverage on your Spurs v Man United betting available at online Paddy Power. If Robin van Persie scores the final goal of the game, then the bookie will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast single bets placed on the match.Get yourself a free £50 bet for your Premier League betting by registering an account with Paddy Power. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet.