Premier League / Frank Gregan / 28 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Spurs had "one of those days" against Stoke last weekend but they dusted themselves down mid-week in the Carling Cup and can record a famous victory over Arsenal on Sunday...

The [6.4] available on Tottenham to beat Arsenal is a massive price but, with both sides keen to have a go, the [5.7] on any unquoted in the correct score market makes sense... "

Football has this weird knack of being able to bite you when you least expect it. I watched Tottenham V Stoke on Saturday, the Spurs faithful were on cloud nine going into the game experiencing one of their best starts to a season since the introduction of floodlights!

Victory against Tony Pulis's men would have seen the men from White Hart Lane top the table albeit for a very short space of time. It would have been a just reward for Harry Redknapp who has once again worked his magic and revived the fortunes of an ailing football club.

Spurs certainly didn't let the occasion get to them. They started brightly and took the game to Stoke. They created chance after chance but were denied by the heroics of Stoke's 'keeper Steve Simonsen.

The longer the score stays 0-0, the more the mental pressure increases on the team on top in a one sided game. Every time the 'keeper makes a save, the ball flies across the face of the goal or comes back off the woodwork the little gremlins between the ears start their mantra: "It's going to be one of those days!"

Some managers ban that kind of negative talk and insist on positivity. "There's no such things as the footballing Gods," is one rant I remember hearing from a manager at half-time. That may well be true but there is no doubting that the longer a game goes on the more anxious the players become and anxiety and technique is not a winning combination.

Harry Redknapp was doing his bit on the touchline and changing things in order to get the win. He was forced to use his first substitute early on when Jonathan Woodgate broke down and that restricted his options. His final substitution was made on 71 minutes and eight minutes later Aaron Lennon turned his ankle and ignored Redknapp's request for him to play on and limped off leaving Spurs to finish the game with 10 men.

Stoke then made a rare venture into the Spurs half and scored the winner. There's little doubt that being down to 10 men contributed significantly to Tottenham's defeat and consequently the question has to be asked was that a result of bad management? Did Harry use his final sub too early?

The answer is no! Keeping the third substitute in reserve would have meant he only had one tactical substitute available having replaced Woodgate early. He was already at a disadvantage and using his third sub (who was the influential Jermaine Jenas) was a calculated risk. It was just meant to be, in fact it was "one of those days!"

Spurs bounced back midweek when they progressed through to the next round of the Carling Cup at the expense of Everton. The 'big one' for their supporters is this weekend against their bitter rivals Arsenal. The two teams are level on points but Arsenal have a much better goal difference, a game in hand and home advantage. Even so, the [6.4] available on Tottenham looks to be a massive price and is this week's recommendation. Both sides love to have a go and it's no surprise to see that any other score in the correct score market is priced at [5.7].

Spurs fans had every right to be disappointed last weekend. A quick look back to exactly a year ago should cheer them up. Harry Redknapp had just joined the club with the remit to make sure they avoided relegation. What a fantastic job he is doing!

Tags: Arsenal betting odds, Frank Gregan, Harry Redknapp, Jermaine Jenas, Premier League football betting odds, Stoke City, Tottenham betting odds