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Tottenham v Middlesbrough: Spurs to bounce back on home fortress

| 03.02.2017

On the face of it, a 0-0 draw with Sunderland this week could be viewed to Tottenham as two points dropped. But it’s now 10-games unbeaten for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, and having seen their top-four rivals also drop points, there’s no need for Spurs to be concerned ahead of this weekend’s visit of Middlesbrough.

Especially when you factor in the Teessiders form.

Aitor Karanka might just be feeling the heat in recent weeks, with Boro winless in their last six league games, and picking up just one victory in their last nine.

The Spaniard is also favourite to be the next Premier League boss to be given the axe.

They’ve found better success in the FA Cup, but their opponents thus far have been non-top-tier opposition.

Plus, the Reds have claimed just one league win away from the Riverside this term, and that came way back in August against Sunderland.

With Spurs unbeaten at White Hart Lane – conceding just five goals – it’s no surprise the hosts are 1/4  favourites here, with Boro out at 12/1.

But having drawn over half of their away games, Karanka clearly sets his stall out for a point on the road, and has already done just that at Arsenal and Manchester City.

A point apiece at 9/2 then, must be given consideration.

Spurs have been simply excellent at home this season however, and they’ve won their last six league games on home soil. With four of the last five of those coming to nil – plus Boro drawing a blank in three of their last four on the road – the 4/6 on Tottenham keeping a clean sheet looks assured.

With just 19 goals this season, Middlesbrough are the league’s lowest scorers.

And with four of the hosts’ last five wins coming by at least a two-goal margin or greater, there could be excellent value in Spurs -1 at 8/11, as could the 9/2 on a 2-0 home win.

But don’t expect Spurs to swat Boro aside in the manner they did to West Brom or Swansea. Karanka’s men have been tough to break down, and seven of their 12 away games this season have seen under 2.5 goals, and that’s Evens to happen again.

Harry Kane leads the first goalscorer betting at 11/5, but having failed to net in three of his last four, better value may lie elsewhere.

Dele Alli maintained his scoring streak by breaking Wycombe hearts last weekend, and the England international now has nine goals in as many games. The 20-year-old is 10/3 to net first.

And Heung-Min Son bagged two in that Emirates FA Cup win last weekend, and should the South Korean be handed a starting place, looks good value at 4/1 to grab the opener.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing

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Author

Richard Marsh

Richard loves his sport, especially if it involves the sound of tyres screaming around a race track. He's not fussy though and his '90s Premier League nostalgia and knowledge of team nicknames is tough to match.