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Spurs


Charlton  0  1   Spurs
Spurs     2  1   Southampton
Fulham    3  2   Spurs
Spurs     3  2   West Ham
Man Utd   1  0   Spurs
Spurs     0  3   Middlesbrough

Cardiff


Cheltenham 1  1    Cardiff
Cardiff    2  1    Stockport
Cardiff    2  0    Brentford
Notts C    0  1    Cardiff
Plymouth   2  2    Cardiff
Cardiff    2  1    Crewe

Worthington Cup Rd 1:-

Boston     1  5    Cardiff


Pos.         Pl. W. D. L. F-A.  GD Pts
Premiership
 6 Spurs     8   4  1  3 11-12 -1  13 
 
Division 2
 1 Cardiff  11   7  3  1 17-9   8  24 

Cardiff are the form side in this game, as they top Division Two, having lost only one game this season (to Northampton 1-2) in August. They have yet to be defeated on their travels and picked up a convincing win in the first round of this competition at Boston. Robert Earnshaw is the clear danger in their side, having scored 10 goals in all games, three of which were in that Worthington Cup Tie. He has also scored in 5 of his last 6 games.

Spurs have lost 3 out of their last 4 games, and apparently, on top of the known injuries, Ziege will definitely miss the game, whilst Kasey Keller, Jamie Redknapp and Milenko Acimovic are also described as doubtful. The way things are going, Hoddle will have to don the shirt for the first team, before he plays in the forthcoming friendly against DC United (October 17th). (Maybe we could get Jurgen Klinsmann to come early too!)

I have been wondering whether or not Spurs would play a "Worthington Cup" side this year. However, our resources will not allow such a concept, and it looks like we will need a run in this competition to try and qualify for Europe. I would like to see Jonathan Blondel and Rohan Ricketts get a game in the middle, but there will be a need for a bit of beef to assist the defence.

On our form and in our predicament, I honestly think Cardiff stand a chance in this fixture. Maybe they will want to concentrate on their own league challenge, as First Division football will be their priority, and clearly achievable on their current displays. Remember that this is the team that famously put Leeds out of last season's FA Cup, with some distasteful fan scenes to follow. We want none of that at the Lane on Tuesday. I have to predict a home win, but it will be close. I'll go for 2-1.

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