Spurs put out weakened team as they accept the inevitability of another defeat

The teams have just been announced and it looks like the pragmatic Tim Sherwood has decided to save his better players for next week's match as the likelihood of getting anything from today's tussle with their dominant East London neighbours is negligable.



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The rather more bullish Sam Allardyce has recognised that the earlier thrashings of Spurs earlier this season have probably provided his finest hours in a season that has been otherwise blighted by false starts and injuries. Sensing the opportunity to create a piece of history, he has fielded an offensive Hammers side, augmented by the heavily-tattoed threat of Matt Taylor rather than poster boy Matt Jarvis. Georgie McCartney remains at left back despite a lack of pace down the left flank contributing to the only goal versus West Brom last week.

We predict a delicious 2-1 victory for the Hammers.


West Ham
Adrian, Reid, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins, Carroll, Taylor, Noble, Demel, Diame, Downing.
Subs: Jarvis, Armero, Vaz Te, Collins, Jaaskelainen, C Cole, Nocerino.
 Tottenham HotspurLloris; Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Rose; Lennon, Paulinho, Sigurdsson, Eriksen; Adebayor, Kane.
Subs: Friedel, Chiriches, Fryers, Bentaleb, Pritchard, Sandro, Soldado.