Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the draw at Hull with a hip injury. Craig Bellamy is fit again, but Andreas Cornelius remains sidelined. Mousa Dembele and Younes Kaboul should be available despite limping off against Tromso in the Europa League. Alan Gilzean is expected to start after a long term hamstring injury. Danny Rose hurt his ankle in that game and is expected to miss out, but Vlad Chiriches could make his debut after finally receiving a work permit. MATCH PREVIEW In January 1962, when this pair last met in the top flight, Tottenham Hotspur had a magnificent side. Dave Mackay scored in a 1-1 draw at Ninian Park. Spurs were the reigning champions. They were on their way to retaining the FA Cup. They return to the Welsh capital on the brink of becoming a title-contending side again. They've created more chances than any other Premier League club so far. They've kept six clean sheets in seven games in all competitions. They're not the finished article, but they're not far off. Christian Eriksen's arrival has added that little sparkle of midfield magic that they've missed since the departure of Luka Modric. He has an eye for a defence-splitting pass and will chip in with goals too, as he did against Tromso. Mark Lawrenson says: "I thought Spurs were very good last week in their win over Norwich - they could have won even more easily than they did. I just hope the Bluebirds' owner Vincent Tan lets Malky Mackay get on with his job, even if he loses two or three games on the spin, because he's got a good manager there." There is balance, creativity and variation in the Tottenham midfield. The keeper is superb. The defence has cut out silly mistakes. But who will AVB play up front. Jermaine Defoe looks a sharper option than £26m Roberto Soldado, but the Spaniard seems the preferred choice. Manchester City's big names went to Cardiff last month and caught a cold. They dominated possession, as Tottenham are likely to do, but the Bluebirds capitalised on errors and claimed a famous victory. With the fiery breath of 25,000 Welsh dragons behind them, the new boys will be after another famous scalp, Tonto in particular! Stephen Caulker has a point to prove. I'm surprised Tottenham let him go. Peter Whittingham has always been a good player. I'm delighted he's back in the Premier League. Craig Bellamy's fitness issues will be a concern, but what a lovely story it is - helping his hometown club into the big time in the autumn of his career. He'll always irritate defenders, as will Peter Odemwingie, who's desperate to rescue his reputation. Cardiff look the most likely of the promoted trio to stay up. But however sticky it gets, they must keep faith with Malky Mackay. They've allowed him to spend. Now they must trust in a bright, young manager. He may not be as close to the summit of English football as AVB, but he's done a great job bringing Cardiff back to the top flight after 51 years. Both men are richly deserving, but AVB should take the spoils here. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head This is the first meeting between the clubs in the league since the 1977-78 season when they met in the old Division Two. They haven't met in the top flight since the 1961-62 campaign when Tottenham were the defending champions. They drew 1-1 at Ninian Park and Spurs won 3-2 at White Hart Lane. Tottenham haven't won away at Cardiff in five attempts in all competitions since 1957. Their last meeting was in the FA Cup third round in 2007. Tottenham drew 0-0 in Cardiff before winning the replay 4-0. Cardiff City Cardiff had the best home record in the Championship last season and are unbeaten in their last nine league matches at Cardiff City Stadium (W3, D6). They have played the highest proportion of long passes in the Premier League this season (15.4%). Fraizer Campbell played 10 Premier League matches on loan at Tottenham in 2008-09, scoring one goal. Steven Caulker started 17 Premier League matches for Spurs last season, scoring twice. Against Hull, Peter Whittingham scored his first Premier League goal since 6 November 2004 - a span of 3,234 days. Tottenham Hotspur Andre Villas-Boas' side won all six of their Premier League games against newly-promoted sides in 2012-13. Spurs have scored twice in five of their last seven away games in the league. Entering this weekend's fixtures, Tottenham have had the most shots in the top flight (59 excluding blocked) and have allowed the fewest shots of any team (7.3 per game) this season. Christian Eriksen has created four goals in his five league appearances in 2013-14 (Premier League and Eredivisie combined).
seen them given for worse seen them disallowed for less We have to make our own luck here Clattenberg seems a bit pally walking off holding hands and giggling with two spurs players tho
Thanks for the link Turk, surely Dawson must be close to a booking. Good team play by us and weathered a storm this half, more of the same 2nd half from us and you never know we could steal it. Spurs are quality and the lads need to be on top of their game for the full 90 plus added time.
