If Tottenham are to challenge for the league title like they hope to this season then they need to learn how to do one very important thing, win games at Wembley. They have moved to their temporary home for a season, but have a terrible record at the ground. They lost their opening Premier League game at Wembley last weekend to Chelsea and desperately need to change their record there.
Premier League – Wembley Stadium, Wembley – Sunday 27 August, 16:00 (United Kingdom Time)
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Draw Best Odd of: 19/4 at Sky Bet |
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Tottenham
BurnleyA game against Burnley will give them the chance to do that, Burnley won at Chelsea on the opening weekend, but were brought back down to earth with a home defeat to West Brom last weekend. This is an early season home game against a team expected to struggle, but mentally I think this game is huge for Tottenham.
Tottenham Form
I expected Tottenham to get off to a very good start after keeping together their squad from last season. They sold Kyle Walker, but up until this week hadn’t brought anyone in, giving them stability nobody else had. They won their opening game 2-0 against Newcastle, but then lost to Chelsea last weekend in a game I thought they would win.
I still expect them to have a good start, and expect them to win this game, although playing at Wembley will raise a few doubts amongst the players. Mentally this is a big game for them, they need a good win and then something to build on for the future. With an international break on the horizon, Tottenham will not want to head into that without a win from their opening two league games at Wembley.
Burnley Form
Burnley shocked us all by beating Chelsea on the opening day of the season and would love the same result in their second trip down to the capital. Chelsea played a lot of the game with 10 men that day, and some of it with 9, but don’t let that take anything away from Burnley, who played well and took the chances they had.
I don’t think anybody wants to play a team in the top six away from home, but if there is one team that clubs would choose now it would be to play Tottenham away. The Wembley move is a big thing, and this is a big game for Tottenham. Burnley can go there with nothing to lose and everything to gain, whether they have the class to actually beat Tottenham though I doubt very much.
I think this season is going to be difficult for Burnley and anything they can get from games like these will be a huge boost to their chances.
Team News
Tottenham have finally made a signing this week, with the exciting young centre back Davinson Sanchez joining the club for a club record transfer fee of over £40 million. He will not be ready of this one, but I expect we will see a lot of him after the international break. That leaves Tottenham with a similar line-up to the one that played Chelsea for this game.
Burnley have signed Chris Wood from Leeds and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw him come on as a substitute to give him a taste of what the Premier League is like. I really like Wood and think Burnley have done the right thing signing him to replace Andre Gray. He is big and strong, but also very mobile, in a similar mould to the striker opposing him today, Harry Kane.
Top Betting Tips
I do think this is a big game for Tottenham, and one that they really have to win. They have a poor record at Wembley and that must change, heading into the international break without a win from their two opening games at the stadium is not what they need.
I do think Tottenham will win the game, but with Burnley there to frustrate, and the nerves surrounding the game, I think it will be a lot closer than the betting suggests. I am going to go for a correct score in the game, which offers much better value than the traditional win market. I am going to back Tottenham to win 1-0, which can be backed at 6/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral.
I am expecting a close game, one that Tottenham will have to work hard in but a game that they can eventually win. This is an important test for Tottenham and there are sure to be nerves, but I think they can overcome those and win.