50% chance of a win

Tomorrow we take on WBA at the Hawthorns at 3pm and after Arsenal, West Ham United and Chelsea we can not afford to take this game lightly. This game presents its own challenges, like the others though it is just 3 points that are at stake.

Motivation is everything for games like this, not tub-thumping American motivation, but personal player motivation, the motivation that comes from within. We have a squad that is competing for places, a squad where you can't afford to get injured or have a bad game. That in itself is a personal motivating factor.

Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason were two of the first names on the teamsheet last season. Injuries to both has meant opportunities for others, Dier and Alli have produced performances that say you can't drop me. Mousa Dembele started the season out wide, an injury and you started to wonder where he would get a game. Eric Dier missed the Liverpool game and Dembele produced a performance that demanded he was picked again and has continued to play in that vein.

Compare that to Andros Townsend who was given a chance in the UEFA Europa League and didn't take it. If you are in the team at the moment you have to perform, if you get a chance you have to perform, there is no room for charity if we want to move to the next level. You improve and come with us or leave.

That motivation then has to be channeled into the game plan that Mauricio Pochettino decides to use, with the additional motivation of what it means to the teams goals for the season. Three points is a stepping stone, just another stair to climb to get to the top.

Tottenham have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League meetings with WBA (W5, D5, L1).

Friday fact. We have scored in 15 of our 18 PL games v WBA. The only 3 we failed to score in were WBA's only 3 PL victories against us.

WBA average 1 point per game at home and Tottenham average 1.5 points per game away from home.

WBA sit 13th in the table and have lost 4 of their last 6. Statistics suggest they have a 1% chance of finishing in 5th or 6th place and a 10% chance of relegation. They look to be secure in the top flight for another season, no surprise with Pulis at the helm, he does a good job wherever he goes.

59% Chance of a Top 4 Finish

61% of WBA points have been earned away from home and 72% of their goals conceded have been at home where they have lost 57% of their games.

Tottenham are undefeated in 13 and are attempting to equal the 14 game run of 1984/85 in the old First Division. That run was:

Nottingham Forest 1-2
Ipswich Town 0-3
Chelsea 1-1
Coventry City 1-1
Newcastle United 3-1
Watford 1-2
Norwich City 1-2
West Ham United 2-2
Sunderland 2-0
Arsenal 1-2
QPR 2-2
Luton Town 2-2
WBA 0-1
Stoke City 0-1
We then lost to Manchester United 1-2.

Tottenham scored at least one goal in 83% of our away games, we are undefeated in our last 5 away games and scored at least one goal in each of those games.


Last 4 matches (home)Last 4 matches (away)


WBA - Arsenal 2-11-1Arsenal - SPURS
WBA - Leicester City 2-31-5Bournemouth - SPURS
WBA - Sunderland 1-02-2Swansea City - SPURS
WBA - Everton 2-30-1Sunderland - SPURS

Chances of a WBA win 33%, chances of a Tottnham win 50%
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