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Attendance: 24,169
Huddersfield logo
Premier League
Sep 30, 2017 at 12.30pm UK
 
Spurs logo

0-4

FT(HT: 0-3)
Kane (9', 24'), Davies (16'), Sissoko (91')

Preview: Huddersfield Town vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Sports Mole previews the Premier League encounter at the John Smith's Stadium between Huddersfield Town and Tottenham Hotspur.

Huddersfield Town head into their final Premier League fixture before the international break looking to maintain an unbeaten home record which has helped the Terriers maintain a position in the top half of the standings since their promotion to the top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur make the long trip to the John Smith's Stadium with the opportunity to move into third place, while Mauricio Pochettino's side possess a 100% record on the road in all competitions since the start of the season.


Huddersfield Town

David Wagner watches on during the Premier League game between Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United on August 20, 2017© Offside

Huddersfield have been somewhat of a revelation since earning their spot in this season's top flight, but the signs are there that the goals and victories are already starting to dry up.

David Wagner's team are four games without a win, while only one goal has been scored in over 400 minutes of top-flight action, so Wagner himself will acknowledge that there can be no room for complacency at the Yorkshire outfit.

Of course, each and every positive must be taken from sitting in eighth spot after half-a-dozen fixtures, but this is Huddersfield's first meeting with a so-called "top-seven club" so tougher challenges await in the coming weeks.

That begins with hosting a Spurs side who have been rampant on the road but while Huddersfield have their problems in attack, just the one goal has been conceded in three matches at the John Smith's Stadium.

Newcastle United and Southampton provided the opposition at a time when they were lacking in belief in the final third, but Wagner and his squad will take confidence from keeping two clean sheets in front of their own supporters, who are still enjoying every second of life in the Premier League.

Striker Laurent Depoitre is likely to get another opportunity in attack, with his goal and man-of-the-match performance against Leicester City earlier this month showing that the Belgian has the credentials to provide an alternative option to Steve Mounie, who has not scored since the opening weekend of the campaign.

Recent form: WWDLDD
Recent form (all competitions): WDLDLD


Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino embraces Harry Kane during the Champions League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund on September 13, 2017© Offside

Spurs are still struggling to put together any kind of form at Wembley Stadium but fortunately for Pochettino, his players seemingly have little issue in delivering results when on their travels.

Newcastle, Everton and West Ham United have all been dispatched on the road, with the only goals that have been conceded coming during the closing stages of last week's 3-2 success over the Hammers at a time when Serge Aurier had been sent off.

The North Londoners were much less impressive during Tuesday's Champions League victory over APOEL - despite the 3-0 scoreline - but the performance highlighted the club's reliance on Harry Kane, who netted his first perfect hat-trick in a Spurs shirt.

The Cypriot champions deserved at least a point from the game in Nicosia with Spurs gifting their hosts at least four opportunities which should have led to goals, but the Premier League team perhaps received the luck which they have not been getting in home games on the domestic front.

Huddersfield will provide a different type of challenge to that of Newcastle, Everton, West Ham and APOEL from the perspective of the Terriers not having much pressure on their shoulders to force the game, a style of play which has flummoxed Pochettino and his players at Wembley.

That said, with a number of key players benefiting from a rest in midweek, Pochettino will have no qualms over instructing his side to try to grab the game by the scruff of the neck in order to head into the international break on a high.

Recent form: WLDWDW
Recent form (all competitions): WWDWWW


Team News

Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli following their 1-0 defeat to West Ham United on May 5, 2017© SilverHub

Spurs are able to welcome both Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli back into the fold after the duo were forced to sit out the journey to APOEL through suspension.

Pochettino has also revealed that Christian Eriksen will be available to take his place in the squad after missing the European trip through illness.

Aurier is absent from the game due to a one-match ban, but Ben Davies will return to left wing-back in order to accommodate the return of Vertonghen.

Wagner has said that he will be able to select his starting lineup from the same squad which was available for the goalless draw at Burnley.

However, that comes with the added inclusion of Mounie, who has been missing through a minor injury issue but has been passed fit for Saturday's game.

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:
Lossl; Smith, Jorgensen, Schindler, Lowe; Hogg, Mooy; Kachunga, Sabiri, Ince; Depoitre

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Lloris, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Tripper, Dier, Winks, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane


Head To Head

This weekend's match will represent the 41st time in which these two teams have squared off in a competitive fixture, with Huddersfield claiming 16 wins in comparison to just the 11 victories for Spurs.

The clubs will be meeting for the first time since 1972 - which perhaps tells you why Huddersfield hold the edge from a historical perspective - but the teams were regular foes during the early fifties and seventies.

For what it is worth, Spurs possess a five-game unbeaten streak against Huddersfield, with Martin Chivers and Alan Gilzean getting on the scoresheet in the most recent clash - a League Cup fixture - at White Hart Lane


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Huddersfield Town 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs may have had their problems at their temporary home but Pochettino and his players have every chance of becoming the first team to steamroller Huddersfield this season. Kane is back to his clinical best and with other key men to return to the starting lineup, Huddersfield may struggle to cope with refreshed opposition.



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Written by
Darren Plant
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Mauricio Pochettino embraces Harry Kane during the Champions League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund on September 13, 2017
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