Big Match Preview: Spurs vs Everton – Carling Cup

Another day goes by and another tricky away trip for David Moyes and Everton looms; next up is the Carling Cup and the team playing host is Tottenham Hotspur.

After two demoralising defeats in quick succession and an ever increasing injury list, Everton fans can be forgiven for feeling more than a little apprehensive ahead of this fourth round tie in north London.

In a competition they have never won, twice finalists Everton face a Tottenham side (for remarkably the first ever time in the League Cup) who boast an impressive recent record – they have been finalists in the past 2 seasons, defeating Chelsea 2-1 in 2008 to add to their previous 3 successes in the competition, then losing somewhat unfortunately on penalties to Manchester United last year.

The timing of this cup tie could be regarded as a blessing or a curse for Everton and Spurs on the back of league defeats to Bolton and Stoke respectively and with both clubs suffering from depleted squads due to injury.  Harry Redknapp faces a catch 22 situation in picking a strong team to progress in a competition which represents one of Spurs’ best chance of silverware this season while at the same time he will have one eye on this Saturday’s derby with Arsenal.

Unfortunately Everton do not have that luxury, in a fixture captain Phil Neville labelled “Nothing short of disgrace” after two games in four days, David Moyes will struggle even to fill 10 outfield positions and he will be calling on his side to muster the fighting spirit upon which most of their relative recent success has been built.

Johnny Heitinga should return for the under-strength blues after suffering cramp in the loss at the Reebok on Sunday while any one of Dinyar Bilyaletdinov, Leighton Baines, Yakubu, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman or even Stephen Pienaar could possibly return.

Tottehnam are likely to be without Aaron Lennon, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate through injury, Jermain Defoe is still suspended and Niko Kranjcar is cup-tied after playing for former club Portsmouth in an earlier round.

Spurs will be favorites going into a tie – which will be settled one way or another on the night – following their flying start to the season and with home advantage, although Everton can take heart from a recent good run against their north London opponents which has seen the blues unbeaten at White Hart Lane for four years and the last four meetings between the two teams have ended in 2 draws and 2 wins for David Moyes’ men.

By David Carroll