Tottenham v Swansea Prediction 16th December 2012

Tottenham v Swansea Betting Preview
An entertaining clash to look forward to in the race for top four spot in the Premier League. Spurs sit in fifth place, three points ahead of Swansea heading into the weekend’s action. So big points on offer for the two sides here and both were in good form until their respective matches last weekend. Both suffered setbacks so will want to find a return to form in this one and will Tottenham’s great home form against the Swans be enough to secure them an important three points?

Tottenham v Swansea Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Tottenham 8/13, Draw 3/1, Swansea 9/2

Tottenham v Swansea Recommended Bet:
The downfall of Spurs this season has been the amount of late goals they have conceded. They have dropped 14 points this term in the final fifteen minutes of matches in the Premier League, a league high. If matches were just 80 minutes long then Spurs would be top of the league and that is a pretty big stat to consider. It just points to the defence of Spurs not being able to stand up to any sustained pressure at the end of matches. They did it again last weekend, when they conceded twice at the death to end up losing against Everton at Goodison Park. Spurs have conceded 25 goals in their sixteen matches, the third most they have ever let in at this stage of a Premier League season. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight home matches so there is a probability that both teams will be able to get on the scoresheet. Tottenham could be without Gareth Bale For this one, but Scott Parker looks close to get a return to the side. Tottenham are favourites and they have won the last two back to back at White Hart Lane, and they have not lost in the last 14 home league meetings against the Welsh club. But it could be a nervy ninety minutes at White Hart Lane against Swansea who will come and play neat football.

So it should be an open and entertaining game. Swansea had quietly put together a good stretch of form, going unbeaten in six matches with good consistency until they blew up last weekend. They were toppled in a thrilling 4-3 defeat against Norwich at the Liberty Stadium last weekend. After conceding heavily at the start of the season, Michael Laudrup had tightened up the defence, not conceding more than one goal in any of their previous eight matches until they ran into Norwich. In the run up to last week’s Norwich defeat, Swansea had conceded just one in three games. so there is some potential here for the Welsh club as they go looking for their third away win in a row. They are unbeaten in their last three away games so are in good nick. That game against Norwich looks like a bit of an anomaly. Swansea lost heavily in a 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane last season, but they have taken victories in three of their last five visits to London. Striker sensation Michu has netted 12 times this season, equalling Danny Graham’s top scorer tally of last season. Michu has netted five of Swansea’s ten away goals this season and will be a big threat. Given Tottenham’s defensive liabilities, Swansea may be worth backing in a +0.75 Asian Handicap for a price of 21/20 at online bookmaker Bet365.

Form
Spurs DWWWWL, Swansea WDWWLW

Stat Attack
Spurs have dropped 14 points in the last 15 minutes of matches this season
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 14 at home against Swansea
Swansea’s Michu has scored half of the club’s ten away goals this season
Swansea have won three of the last five matches played in London

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