Premier League Betting: Tottenham v Blackburn

Premier League / Jaymes Monte / 12 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Luka Modric can inspire Spurs to a win over Blackburn at White Hart Lane.

"Blackburn’s main problem away from home has been finding the back of the net; since the turn of the year they have only managed a solitary goal from open play on their travels in the league. That leads to the [2.1] on their being less than 2.5 goals looking like a good value bet."

Jaymes Monte looks at the first of the weekend's Premier League matches where Tottenham are aiming to move clear of those chasing that coveted fourth Champions League spot. Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ [2.1].

Luka Modric has thrown down the gauntlet to his Tottenham team mates by stating that a successful season for them would be to win the FA Cup and claim fourth spot in the Premier League. Not that Spurs or Harry Redknapp have ever shied away from the fact that they are having a tremendous season which could reap endless rewards but a public statement from one of their top players that they are not content with a Europa League spot is of great significance.

Modric is beginning to once again reach the top of his form since returning from the broken leg that he suffered back in August of this season, marking the occasion with a fantastic goal against Everton two weeks ago. It is a timely boost for Redknapp who has mounting injury concerns ahead of this weekend's game against Blackburn where he will be without Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King in defence and Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas in midfield. However, he has a selection headache of the desirable kind at the top of the pitch where he must decide which two of his three in-form strikers will start the game.

Against a Blackburn side with such a miserable away record this looks like a must win for Spurs if they are to maintain those fourth place aspirations. Sam Allardyce's side have won just one of their 14 league away games this season so it is no surprise that they are as big as [9.0] to win this weekend. In fact it is perhaps a little unexpected that Tottenham aren't even shorter than the [1.48] price that they can currently be backed at.

Blackburn's main problem away from home has been finding the back of the net; since the turn of the year they have only managed a solitary goal from open play on their travels in the league. That leads to the [2.1] on their being less than 2.5 goals looking like a good value bet. Even though Tottenham can be lethal when hitting full stride at White Hart Lane I typically like to have confidence in both teams getting on the score sheet before I can back over 2.5, especially at odds below [2.0].

There were a lot of handbags being waved about in the aftermath of Blackburn's recent defeat to Liverpool; mainly, it has to be said, by Rafael Benitez. The Liverpool manager mocked Allardyce's style of play and bemoaned the tough tackling attitude that the visitors had taken, however, with Blackburn sitting seven places higher in the Premier League's fair play table it would suggest that the Spaniard might want to look closer to home before criticising others.

There is little to separate Rovers and Spurs in the disciplinary stakes this year where both average around 1.6 yellow cards per game, and the reverse of this fixture ended with just one booking. I don't see any reason why this game will be any more troublesome for referee Howard Webb and backing '5 pts and under' at anything around the [2.5] mark is advisable.

Being involved in the earliest kick-off of the weekend has huge advantages providing you can take all three points. Redknapp knows that a win would heap the pressure onto Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City and certainly make that [4.6] on Spurs attaining a top four finish shrink considerably.