Facts and figures on Sunday's clash at White Hart Lane (ko 1.30pm)
A tough trip to White Hart Lane awaits for Albion this weekend and, as usual, we have teamed up with football statistics website WhoScored.com to preview the clash.
Only a couple of defensive errors could split the Baggies and Everton last weekend, and it will be a similarly difficult game this weekend, but if they can learn from their mistakes, there is every reason to believe they can come away from London with something to show for their efforts.
Tottenham are an extremely tricky team to visit for anyone, but Albion are rarely fazed by the prospect of visiting the grounds of the Premier League's top clubs, and tend to do well on trips to White Hart Lane.
In fact, the Baggies have lost only one of their last four visits there, and have shown incredible resilience and team spirit to come from behind and get a result on the other three occasions.
In what has been a mixed season so far, some of Irvine's newly-signed players have shone. Amongst them, Belgian left-back Sébastien Pocognoli has performed well, registering an average rating from WhoScored.com of 6.64 thus far.
Technically adept, positionally aware, strong in the tackle and good in the air, he looks like a fantastic capture for the club. While he defends well, boasting a WhoScored strength in 'aerial duels', he also provides attacking threat, marauding up and down the left flank to great effect. As his heat map shows, he actually has a greater proportion of his touches in the opposition half than in defence.
He gets forward regularly and provides an outlet on the left flank to get into positions from which he can deliver crosses into the box. With another strength in 'crossing', it makes sense that Irvine is keen to get his full-back forward as often as possible. 36% of Albion's attacking touches have come down the left side this season, and Pocognoli is key.
*WhoScored.com is a unique website and one of the fastest growing in the sports industry, specialising in the in-depth analysis of detailed football data. Provided with unique stats, they compile and create comprehensive analysis on the major European divisions, including live match stats and player ratings. Follow @WhoScored and their editor-in-chief @alitweedale on Twitter.
All-time results record (League, FA Cup and League Cup)
Interesting facts
| PLD | W | D | L | F | A | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOME | 69 | 37 | 13 | 19 | 136 | 88 | +48 |
| AWAY | 68 | 15
| 19 | 34 | 68 | 117 | -49 |
| NEUTRAL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| TOTAL | 138 | 52 | 32 | 54 | 204 | 209 | -5 |
Interesting facts
Albion’s first ever victory over Tottenham came on Saturday, November 7, 1908. The Baggies defeated the visitors 3-0 in the old Division Two.
Chris Brunt has two Premier League goals against Tottenham and the Northern Ireland international scored against Spurs in the 3-3 draw at The Hawthorns last season.
Three of the past five Premier League meetings between the two sides at White Hart Lane have ended in draws.
There has never been a red card in this fixture between the two sides at White Hart Lane.
Alan Irvine and Mauricio Pochettino both take charge of their fifth Premier League game with their current club.
Last time out
HOME: Barclays Premier League, Saturday, April 12, 2014, Albion 3 (Vydra 1’, Brunt 4’, Sessegnon 31’) Tottenham 3 (Olsson OG 34’, Kane 70’, Eriksen 90’)
AWAY: Barclays Premier League, Thursday, December 26, 2013, Tottenham 1 (Eriksen 36’) Albion 1 (Olsson 38’)
Form guide (last six league matches)
ALBION: LLDDLL
TOTTENHAM: LWWWLD
Last league match line-ups
ALBION (v Everton – home L 0-2): Foster, Wisdom, Olsson, Dawson, Pocognoli (Gamboa 77’), Morrison, Gardner, Brunt (Blanco 70’), Dorrans, Berahino, Ideye (Samaras 70’). Subs not used: Daniels (gk), Baird, Yacob, McAuley
TOTTENHAM (v Sunderland – away D 2-2): Lloris, Kaboul, Rose, Chiriches, Dier, Capoue, Dembele, Chadli (Stambouli 70’), Lamela, Eriksen (Lennon 86’), Adebayor (Kane 79’). Subs not used: Vorm (gk), Townsend, Naughton, Fazio
Tottenham team news
New boys Federico Fazio and Benjamin Stambouli could start at White Hart Lane after impressing in midweek in the Europa League. Danny Rose could come back into the line-up after missing the trip to Partizan Belgrade.
Ref watch
Kevin Friend will take charge of Sunday’s fixture. The Leicester-based official took up refereeing as a 14-year-old and took charge of his first top-flight game in 2009.
Betting
Selected odds from Sky Bet:
Albion to win: 11/2
Tottenham to win: 1/2
Draw: 16/5
Harry Kane and Saido Berahino, both players to score: 9/1
West Brom to win 2-1: 18/1
If you fancy a flutter with the club's official online betting partner, click here.
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