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Norwich logo
Premier League
Feb 2, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Spurs logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-2)
Alli (2'), Kane (30' pen., 90')

Preview: Norwich City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Sports Mole gazes ahead to Tuesday night's Premier League match at Carrow Road as Norwich City take on Tottenham Hotspur.

Tuesday night at Carrow Road sees a team on a four-game losing streak host one that have won four on the bounce.

Tottenham Hotspur will undoubtedly start the match as favourites, but Norwich City are well-rested and will hope a return to form is just around the corner.


Norwich

Norwich City's Steven Naismith scores against Liverpool in the Premier League on January 23, 2016© Getty Images

One defeat and three wins in five matches around the turn of the year had Norwich a few points clear of the drop zone, but they are right back in the thick of it now having lost three straight league games.

The Canaries' current losing run started with a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup. That means that they were not in action over the weekend, so their last match was the nine-goal game at home to Liverpool.

After falling behind early on, Norwich surged back and debutant Steven Naismith was among the goals as the Canaries went 3-1 in front before losing 5-4 to a last-gasp Adam Lallana strike.

Defending from both teams was questionable to say the least and by letting in five against the Reds, Norwich have the Premier League's second-worst defence with 43 conceded and only three clean sheets in 23 matches.

Alex Neil will have been working on shoring up the backline, but his team did impress going forward. Only once this season have Norwich failed to score at home in the league and as well as Naismith getting off the mark, Ivo Pinto was keen to get forward from right-back.

Add to that the fact that Patrick Bamford has joined on loan from Chelsea and Norwich will hope that they have the firepower to stay up this term.

Recent Premier League form: LWWLLL
Recent form (all competitions): WWLLLL


Spurs

Harry Kane celebrates scoring Spurs' second against Norwich on December 26, 2015© Getty Images

Through in the FA Cup, still in the Europa League and genuine title contenders - it could be a magical season for Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino has built a squad with the youngest average age in the Premier League and, depending on how results go this midweek, the North London club could move within two points of the top of the table.

Last time out in the league they came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Crystal Palace, with Harry Kane again on the scoresheet, Dele Alli scoring a goal-of-the-season contender and Nacer Chadli adding a pinpoint third.

With Alli and Chadli pinging them in from distance, Spurs have had the most shots on target from outside the box in the Premier League this season (53). In fact, Pochettino's side have attempted the most shots on target overall (153), while they have allowed their opponents a joint-league low 72 (alongside Southampton).

That has helped the White Hart Lane outfit to the joint-best goal difference in the league and with it all quite tight at the top, it could play a part come the end of the season.

Since that win at Selhurst Park, Spurs have been drawn against at home against Palace in the FA Cup fifth round after easing to victory over League One strugglers Colchester United on Saturday.

Kane was not rested at the Weston Homes Community Stadium and although he did not score against the U's, the England international has now got 32 goals in his last 46 Premier League appearances, only 10 fewer than Norwich as a team in their last 46 Premier League games.

Recent form: WWDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLWWWW


Team News

Patrick Bamford in action for Crystal Palace on July 23, 2015© Getty Images

Neil seemed unconcerned by Bamford's struggles during the first half of the season while on loan with Crystal Palace, but it is unlikely the Chelsea man will play from the start with Naismith and Dieumerci Mbokani set to continue in attack.

Timm Klose was an unused substitute last time out, but given some of Norwich's defending the Swiss could come in and partner Russell Martin at the back.

In midfield, Alexander Tettey should return after illness, while Gary O'Neil serves the last match of his three-game ban after getting sent off at Stoke earlier this month.

Alli, who has had a hand in nine goals in his last 12 Premier League games, should return for Spurs after getting a rest at Colchester.

Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld and Moussa Dembele are likely to also be back in the starting XI, while Pochettino will have to decide between Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min in the three-pronged attacking midfield behind Kane.

Jan Vertonghen is definitely out with knee ligament damage, so Kevin Wimmer should continue at centre-back.

Norwich possible starting lineup:
Rudd; Pinto, Martin, Klose, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Howson, Hoolahan; Naismith; Mbokani

Spurs possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Son, Eriksen, Alli; Kane


Head To Head

These two last met just over a month ago on Boxing Day, when Kane scored a brace in a 3-0 win at White Hart Lane.

Failing to net in North London means that the Canaries have scored just five goals in their last 11 Premier League games against Spurs.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Norwich 1-3 Spurs

Norwich have conceded more goals from opposition counter-attacks than anyone else in the Premier League this season, and Spurs might just play on that with the likes of Dembele surging from midfield and in-form Kane there to put away any chances. Anything but an away win would be a surprise.



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Written by
Pascal Lemesre
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Patrick Bamford of Crystal Palace in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal on August 16, 2015
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