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Swans Head Off To The Lane
Saturday, 24th Aug 2013 10:00 by Phil Sumbler

The Swans head off to White Hart Lane on Sunday for the next stop to their Premier League campaign and looking to put the disappointment of last week's 4-1 defeat to Manchester United behind them.

The game will not be any easier than it was last week but Michael Laudrup will send his side into the Lane on a high after their 5-1 midweek win in Europe. Spurs though were also the scorers of five in Europe leaving both sides with one foot in the group stage of the Europa League although I suspect that will be of more comfort to the Swans than Spurs given our hosts desire to reach the Champions League failed again at the end of last season.

All discussion at Tottenham this week has been around Gareth Bale and a world record transfer move to Real Madrid which cannot have helped their preparations for this season although their summer spending saw them purchase more than enough players to blast a hole in the payment about to arrive from Madrid. And they will also be smarting after London rivals Chelsea announced the £30 million capture of Willian who had a medical at Tottenham on Wednesday before electing to join Chelsea.

Those factors must work in the Swans favour as they look to bounce back from the defeat last week that saw them match the Champions in many departments but being undone by some slack defending and some world class finishing. Thankfully Tottenham do not have an answer to Van Persie - particularly not now Bale is on his way - and it will be interesting to see the difference in them without their star man. They were of course without him last week when they won 1-0 at Crystal Palace but they were far from convincing then and that again can only give the Swans hope.

Our comprehensive victory in Europe on Thursday can only be good news for this game as it means that Laudrup is likely to play his strongest team and make changes for the second leg against Petrolul on Thursday with our progress just about secured. I would suspect a return to the side for Ben Davies ahead of Neil Taylor and there will be a chance that Jose Canas will come in for Leon Britton in what else is quote probably likely to be an unchanged side from the side that started on Thursday.

Tottenham completed the league double over the Swans last season - the only side to do so - and the Swans have only registered one point from twelve available in the four league meetings since we returned to the Premier League. However, there has never looked a massive difference between the sides in those two games and that has to give the Swans some confidence especially given our strengthening of the side in the close season.

In the opposition side we will need to keep a close eye on Roberto Soldado who has struck 16 goals in his last 14 games but we know that Ash and Chico will look much stronger than they did last week. And they will also have to re-write history having failed to win on fifteen previous trips to White Hart Lane where they have yielded just two draws out of those games.

The one thing you can probably expect not to see on Sunday is a penalty - neither side were awarded one in the Premier League last season although Spurs only goal last weekend did come from the spot to break that record.

As usual it is a safe trip to all making the trip to North London tomorrow and here's to us coming home with at least a point to get our points tally moving for the season.

Photo: Action Images



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