Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth: Pochettino's men to keep pressure on Chelsea

Tottenham v Bournemouth
Saturday 15 April, 12.30pm
Live on Sky Sports 1

Spurs

Tottenham come into this game with a chance - albeit a very slim one - of catching Chelsea in the Premier League title race. Mauricio Pochettino's men will likely need to win all of their remaining fixtures if they are to do so.

Spurs have been on a tremendous run of form in recent weeks - including that 4-0 thrashing of Watford last time out - and it is testament to Chelsea's title credentials that they have managed to keep them at arm's length. One glimmer of hope for the north Londoners is that they can put some pressure on the league leaders who have to travel to Old Trafford on Sunday.

Although Son Heung-min and Dele Alli have deputised ably in his absence, the expected return of Harry Kane on Saturday will be a huge boost for Tottenham. The young Englishman has scored at a faster rate (101 minutes per goal) than any other player in the Premier League this season and the club's fans will be hoping he can continue that run of form as the season draws to a close.

Bournemouth

The Cherries hit a good run of form at just the right time this season. After going through a real sticky patch at the turn of the year in which they lost six out of seven games, Eddie Howe's men picked up eight points in four games.

Not only did that spell win Howe the manager of the month award for March but it also lifted Bournemouth seven points clear of relegation. The game against Spurs on Saturday will be the third on the bounce against one of the three top sides in the league (the others being last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea and a 2-2 draw at Anfield).

While Howe would undoubtedly like some more points to make safety a certainty, there is a sense the Bournemouth players may write this one off with one eye on a run of games against lowly Middlesbrough and Sunderland and an out-of-form Stoke to come next.

Match odds

Spurs head into this one as heavy favourites at odds of 1.30 for the win. The draw can be backed at 6.60, while Bournemouth are 12.50 to pull off an upset. And one hell of an upset it would be too. Spurs are the form team in the Premier League, have won seven on the bounce and are unbeaten at White Hart Lane all season.

However, instead of backing the home win at such short odds, what appeals more here is to look at how convincing Spurs can be.

Pochettino's side have only conceded eight goals in their 16 games at White Hart Lane in the Premier League this season, keeping an impressive 10 clean sheets along the way. Their defensive line-up of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier is undoubtedly one of, if not the, strongest in the league.

While Bournemouth do pose a threat going forward in the likes of Josh King and Benik Afobe, it would be no surprise to see Spurs keep another clean sheet and win to nil at odds of [2.15].

Ref watch

The man in the middle on Saturday will be Michael Oliver. The 32-year-old has handed out 112 yellows and four reds in his 37 games this season - although all his dismissals have come in his last 17 games, including one for Bournemouth's Simon Francis against Arsenal in January.

Recommended Bets

Back Tottenham to win to nil @ [2.15]