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TGL:CBKoE
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Last Prem Game of 06/07: Tottenham Vs Manchester City
| Quote: |  White Hart Lane
Sunday, 13 May
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day
This will be a featured match on Sunday's Score - 1430 BST on BBCi and bbc.co.uk/score
Tottenham are hoping Jermaine Jenas recovers from back spasms to return to the starting line-up.
Ricardo Rocha, Mido, Young-Pyo Lee and Steed Malbranque have also been struggling with injuries.
Manchester City could give a farewell appearance to Stephen Jordan with Michael Ball suspended.
Micah Richards is still injured and Joey Barton is banned, while youngster Michael Johnson is likely to fill one of the midfield berths.
Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Alnwick, Chimbonda, Assou-Ekotto, Rocha, Dawson, King, Gardner, Ifil, Zokora, Tainio, Jenas, Murphy, Ghaly, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Lennon, Taarabt, C Lee, Barnard, Berbatov, Defoe, Keane.
Man City (from): Isaksson, Weaver, Onuoha, Sun Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Beasley, Hamann, Johnson, Ireland, Vassell, Mpenza, Samaras, Corradi, Dickov, Sturridge, Laird.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol:
"Man City will be fresh, they have nothing to lose and will be relaxed. I don't know how much of an advantage that will be for them.
"Even without Joey Barton, Dietmar Hamann is back for them and doing a good job.
"And Emile Mpenza who I know from watching Schalke, he's a very good player and can cause damage."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR take on mid table Manchester City needing a point to guarantee Uefa Cup football next season. They could finish as high as fifth for the second season in a row, which would earn a merit payment of £7,728.000. It's been an impressive season under Martin Jol that saw them reach the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup and FA Cup, and the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
This is their 2,500th post war League match and 59th in all competitions this season, which compares with only the 40 they undertook last term. They've scored 102 League and Cup goals (only Manchester United 123 and Chelsea 115 have also reached three figures). However Spurs have only kept six Premiership clean sheets - fewer than any other club. In City, they face a club who've failed to score in more top flight games than any other.
Tom Huddlestone fired his first Barclays Premiership goal to end Manchester City's proud unbeaten home record in the reverse fixture on 17 December. The 1-2 victory was also Tottenham's first away win of the season. Spurs are vying to stretch an unbeaten League run against Manchester City to eight games, with the victory that would tie up a third consecutive 'double' over the Citizens.
MANCHESTER CITY are ending their season against the club they played in Stuart Pearce's first game in charge. Victory would be Pearce's 25th in permanent charge of City and their first in six League outings. Defeat would be the 100th away from home in the club's Premier League history, and the first goal they concede will be the 300th they've shipped on the road all time in this League.
Last Saturday, the Citizens set a new record for the lowest ever total of home goals scored in a top flight season. Now they go into their final game on the lowest goals scored mark for the campaign of 28 - equal only with Watford at the foot. They have provided the least value for money as far as goals on show in Premiership matches is concerned. Their 37 fixtures have yielded just 70 (28 for and 42 against) at 1.89 goals per game.
City have only registered one Premiership victory at the Lane. David Sommeil and Joey Barton scored in a 0-2 triumph on 18 April 2003.
REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Orpington, Kent)
Premiership referees' table
Steve Bennett's 2006-07 Premiership card count
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Club stats
Fixtures
6th 57 points
Highest achievable finish: 5th
Lowest possible finish: 8th (£6,279,000)
1. Won two and drawn three of their last five League games since the 1-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 7 April - their only defeat in 11 Premiership outings.
2. Completed 27 top tier matches since a no score draw (away to Watford on 28 October).
3. Boast a Premier League scorers list of 16 players. Only Manchester United's is longer - 17.
4. Boasting a top flight aggregate of 108 goals. Only Premiership matches involving leaders Manchester United have produced more goals - 109.
5. One of two clubs not to have let in a Premiership goal in stoppage time so far this season. The other is Newcastle.
6. Drawn the last two home League games against Arsenal (2-2) and Blackburn (1-1).
7. Undefeated in five home League games. Won three and drawn two at the Lane, since losing 0-4 to Manchester United on 4 February.
8. 'Doubled' West Ham, Middlesbrough and Charlton so far.
MANCHESTER CITY
Club stats
Fixtures
14th 42 points
Highest achievable finish: 12th (£4,347,000)
Lowest possible finish: 15th (2,898,000)
1. Drawn two and lost three Premiership matches since beating Fulham 1-3 at Craven Cottage on 9 April - their only win in seven League outings.
2. Stuart Pearce is looking for a 25th victory in his 77th top flight match in permanent charge.
3. One of two clubs holding an unbeaten record from top League matches in which they've opened the scoring. Won 11 and drawn one of 12. Arsenal have won 14 and drawn two of 16.
4. One of two clubs not to have won a single top tier game from a losing position. Wigan is the other club.
5. Dropped two points from a winning position (1-1 draw, away to Watford on 21 April, last time out) - that's fewer than any other club.
6. Scored 28 Premiership goals at one every 119 minutes (one hour 59 minutes) on average - an identical record to Watford's.
7. Failed to score in 19 Premiership matches - more than any other club.
8. Participated in seven top flight goalless draws this season - more than any other club.
9. 'Doubled' by Blackburn, Reading, Wigan, Chelsea and Manchester United.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Squad profiles
Dimitar BERBATOV is Tottenham's leading scorer with 22 goals - 11 in the Premiership.
Steed MALBRANQUE is one shy of totalling 50 career goals for English clubs.
Paul ROBINSON is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Tottenham's Premiership matches this season.
If he plays, Paul STALTERI will be making his 50th Tottenham appearance.
MANCHESTER CITY
Squad profiles
Joey BARTON, who's serving a club suspension for the rest of the season, is City's top scorer with seven goals. He is also their top Premiership marksman with six goals.
City is the only club to have one remaining ever-present in all competitions. Richard DUNNE has been on the field for every minute of every one of the Citizens' League and Cup games this season.
If he plays, Georgios SAMARAS will be making his 50th Premiership appearance - all for City.
Suspended: Michael BALL
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Manchester City
8 April 2006 - Ref: Dermot Gallagher
Spurs scorers: Stalteri 44, Carrick 49
Man City scorer: Samaras 52
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
17 December 2006 - Ref: Rob Styles
Man City scorer: Barton 64
Spurs scorers: Davenport 16, Huddlestone 24
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Spurs 41 wins, Man City 44, Draws 30
Prem: Spurs 13 wins, Man City 2, Draws 4
at Spurs only
League: Spurs 27 wins, Man City 14, Draws 16
Prem: Spurs 6 wins, Man City 1, Draws 2
The "League" figures in these Head to Head totals include all Premiership matches  |
it'll be a tough match so i'll say 1-1 |
| Fri May 11, 2007 7:49 pm |
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papadoodpoedels
Division 1 Novice
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Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 1655
67545 ODpoints
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I think 1-0 for Tottenham
Prediction of goal:
Berbatov or keane |
| Fri May 11, 2007 10:22 pm |
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doggiedog
Division 1 Rookie
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Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1310
11152 ODpoints
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i think spurs may just be able to edge out a win
so 1-0 bebetov scores |
| Sat May 12, 2007 4:43 am |
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TGL:CBKoE
Moderator
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Joined: 12 Aug 2005
Posts: 986
Location: At Home
24642 ODpoints
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Final Score:
Tottenam 2: Keane 10 & Berbatov
Manchester City 1: Mpenza 40
if ya counter out Keane's goal by Mpenza, doggiedogg would be right O_O ROFFLE
| Quote: | Robbie Keane marked his 200th Tottenham appearance with a goal to set the hosts on the way to a narrow win that sealed them fifth spot and a Uefa Cup place.
The Irishman turned delightfully in the box to volley Jermaine Jenas' clipped pass into the net for the opener.
And Dimitar Berbatov notched his 23rd of the season when he slammed home.
Emile Mpenza's header reduced the arrears and City threatened a leveller, but Jermain Defoe should have sealed it late on only to see his penalty saved.
Interview: Tottenham head coach Martin Jol
Interview: Man City boss Stuart Pearce
The victory brought huge cheers from the home crowd, who delighted in their club matching last season's league finish, but City will rightly feel aggrieved at not getting anything from a game they dominated at times.
Tottenham certainly started the brighter, Aaron Lennon going close to an opener when he cut inside the box and shot straight at Andreas Isaksson.
And a fine passing move brought them their first minutes later, Berbatov and King combining well to find Jenas, who clipped a delightful ball over the top which Keane swivelled under and volleyed home.
City claimed offside but replays suggested Keane had been kept marginally onside by Nedum Onuoha at right-back.
However, as is so often the case for a team playing without the pressure of needing a result, the visitors were proving obstinate opposition.
With Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson pressing well in midfield, only a superb reaction Paul Robinson save from Darius Vassell's snap-shot kept Spurs ahead.
It was not long before Tottenham made it two, though, as Berbatov latched onto Lennon's fine dummy, bundled his way into the box and slammed low into the near corner.
It should have brought about a procession for Spurs, who were playing some fantastic football at times, but City deservedly reduced the deficit before half-time when Mpenza headed Hamann's precise cross home totally unmarked from six yards.
And it should have been 2-2 moments later, Mpenza forcing Robinson into a sprawling save from the angle and Johnson heading the rebound over with the goal at his mercy.
Any thoughts that Spurs would emerge from half-time a more secure outfit were dispelled in the opening exchanges as City upped the tempo.
With Mpenza causing the home defence problems, the visitors pinned Spurs back in their own half as the likes of DaMarcus Beasley and Ireland dominated possession.
And Robinson again proved Spurs' saviour on the hour mark when Beasley rose highest to send a looping header towards the top corner that the England number one tipped over the bar on the stretch.
Spurs boss Martin Jol reacted by replacing the tired Lennon with Steed Malbranque and it almost had the desired effect late on, only for Dunne to slide Berbatov's low cross away with Keane looming.
It should have been 3-1 late in the piece after Dunne was harshly adjudged to have shoved Didier Zokora - the initial contact was outside the box - but substitute Defoe's tame penalty was saved and he blazed the rebound over.
It mattered little, though, as Spurs saw out the closing minutes without alarm to secure victory and £7,738,000 in prize money for their fifth-placed finish.
# Tottenham boss Martin Jol:
"We are absolutely delighted and rightly so. For this club to finish fifth two season on the trot is a big achievement.
"Credit to Manchester City, they came at us and never gave up. This was our third game in six days and they pressed us really well, but we had some heroes out there and our quality told.
"We are fifth again and we are celebrating. This club wants to be top six, in Europe every season, and we've done that. Now our aim is to get a trophy because that is what we deserve.
"As for Dimitar Berbatov - the answer is very clear. Of course he will be here next season. He's got a very long, very good contract. He's a sensitive lad, he loves the fans, they love him and he's extremely happy here."
# City manager Stuart Pearce:
"We did not deserve to lose that. We stuck in, were resilient and did brilliantly away from home to be honest. Not to mention the fact that both Spurs goals were offside if you ask me.
"We created chances but, much like the whole season, we've just not had the goals in us. We need to go out and make sure we address that during the summer.
"We're possibly on the onset of a takeover and this club needs investment. There will be speculation about me and my players, of course, but that's football."
Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Gardner, Lennon (Malbranque 75), Jenas, Zokora, Tainio, Keane (Defoe 81), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone, Assou-Ekotto.
Booked: Gardner.
Goals: Keane 10, Berbatov 32.
Man City: Isaksson, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin (Hamann 2 , Jordan, Vassell, Jihai, Johnson, Ireland, Beasley (Samaras 81), Mpenza.
Subs Not Used: Weaver, Dickov, Laird.
Booked: Vassell.
Goals: Mpenza 40.
Att: 35,426
Ref: S Bennett (Kent).
Keane volleys home the opener to set Tottenham on their way
Keane and Berbatov again proved the difference for Tottenham |
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| Sun May 13, 2007 4:15 pm |
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issbill 
Soccer Star
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Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 3482
43594 ODpoints
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Keane Defoe Berbatov must be the best strike trio in the prem
Please challenge me if you can |
| Wed May 16, 2007 8:49 pm |
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Nasr09 
Division 1 Rookie
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Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 1299
157141 ODpoints
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You wouldn ask for someone to challenge you unless you got proof so i wont waste my time....however...be that as it may...all these small accolades mean nothing....esp that if you scope one hundred goals in the league and then let in 90 some odd really cancels the strike force out think you not...also arsenal has proven to be the most resilient team in the epl while many view that as a good quality im a bit sceptical...i mean for them to be resiliant they had to go behind alot...and that really set us back and prevented us from winning games that we should've...hopefully there'll be few times calling for excellent resiliance next season |
| Thu May 17, 2007 6:22 am |
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issbill
Soccer Star
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Joined: 13 Jan 2006
Posts: 3482
43594 ODpoints
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I would agree with both points. I believe Spurs will address the defensive problems, don't forget we have only just got our captain back and he was not in full force. Also we are linked to Kaboul who I believe is highly rated U21 French international. I have also heard another rumour or two regarding other players. |
| Thu May 17, 2007 7:00 pm |
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Nasr09
Division 1 Rookie
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Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 1299
157141 ODpoints
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Yeah... A few quality signings would make spurs a rather formidable side...defense yes...midfield too...zakora for me hasn lived up to expectations tho it is his first year and players sometime take a while to adjust to a new league |
| Thu May 17, 2007 9:32 pm |
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