Spurs v Norwich City: Time for Much Needed FA Cup Boost

tottenhamIt’s a pretty grim time to be a Spurs fan with long term injuries leading to a drop in results which threatens our long run in the Champions League. While we admit to feeling a little gloomy ourselves, a run of strong results can leave us in a strong position in the EPL table and we can still reach our targets at the end of a difficult campaign.

In the meantime, we are still in the FA Cup and a home tie against relegation-threatened Norwich City gives Tottenham a genuine chance of progressing into the last eight. The question is, will that dip in form continue or can the remaining members of the squad turn things around and give us all something to smile about on Wednesday night?

Team News

The big question will surround Hugo Lloris who missed Sunday’s defeat with a groin problem. There was no suggestion that it was a long term issue but it does seem that Sunday to Wednesday is too quick in terms of a turnaround. Expect Paulo Gazzaniga to continue but hopefully Hugo won’t be out for too long.

Talking of quick turnarounds, we have no confirmed news as yet beyond the obvious fact that Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min and Moussa Sissoko will miss out. It is, therefore, a case of waiting until the club publishes confirmed team news.

Match Odds

Spurs lead the result betting by a clear margin and you can claim the hosts at best odds of 4/7 with Unibet. The draw and the away win are close and if you think that the scores will be level at the end of normal time, SportingBet are quoting a top price of 7/2. Meanwhile, victory for Norwich City is available at 9/2 with BetFred and GentingBet.

Those are the numbers for the result in 90 minutes but, as always with games such as these, there is a separate To Qualify market. Here, Spurs shorten to best odds of 3/10 with Coral while the Canaries can be picked up at 11/4 with SportingBet.

Few Tottenham fans will be convinced by those markets and with injury absentees and a dip in our form, it could certainly be a lot closer than those prices suggest. As always at this point, it’s time to look at the individual players who can decide the outcome of this tie.

Side Bets

dele alli

Dele Alli

We’ll make our usual start with first goalscorer betting and this shows a very tight set of odds with no fewer than six players listed between 5/1 and 6/1. In places, Dele Alli leads the way at an industry best of 11/2 with Unibet and 888Sport but you can also claim that same top price of 11/2 on Troy Parrott – this time with VBet.

Jose Mourinho has been reluctant to involve Parrott this season but the young Irishman was brought on as a late substitute on Sunday and could be involved much earlier this time.

Elsewhere, Lucas Moura is slightly further back at a best of 23/4 with Unibet and 888Sport while both Norwich’s Teemu Pukki and Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn are available at the same top price of 6/1 with VBet. Completing this closely-matched sextet is Erik Lamela who can be claimed at best odds of 17/2 with Unibet and 888Sport yet again.

Lamela is as short as 5/1 in places so that figure could offer some value but there are other, long range options. The name that will stand out for some is that of Giovani Lo Celso who had another productive 90 minutes against Wolves on Sunday. Lo Celso is quoted at best odds of 11/1 with 888Sport and Unibet to open the scoring or you could take the relative safety of a goal in 90 minutes which is quoted at a top price of 18/5 with the same two bookmakers.

Moving on to other markets, Both Teams to Score is available for this match at best odds of 4/6 with William Hill. Judging by Tottenham’s defensive display in that 2-3 defeat to Wolves at the weekend, this looks a strong option and it may have been even shorter. Norwich have only scored in two of their last five matches but the Canaries will clearly fancy their chances of finding our net on Wednesday night.

BTTS has some value but we can’t say the same about Over 2.5 goals. This is on offer at a best of just 6/11 with VBet and while you could push to Over 3.5 at 13/10 with William Hill and 10Bet, we’re not confident of this dropping in.

As for the Correct Score, we are edging towards 1-1 at the end of normal time. This is quoted at a top price of 33/4 with SportingBet and while it carries the shortest odds in the Correct Score betting, no-one should be surprised if it drops in.

Verdict

norwich cityThis will be our third encounter with Norwich City since December 28 so we’ll skip our usual dangerman and head to head sections this time. Instead, we’ll head straight on to consider our verdict and clearly it could be much trickier than the result markets are suggesting.

While our form is starting to slip, Norwich City are fighting for survival and they will come into this match on the back of an impressive 1-0 win over Leicester City on Friday night. The Canaries will, therefore, have enjoyed an extra two days rest and there’s a lot working in their favour.

We suspect that we will edge this although we may go beyond normal time to do so. One hope is that Norwich will have their minds elsewhere and could even field a weakened side ahead of some vital fixtures. We’re hopeful of a positive outcome but for now we’ll sign off with just two tips in the 90 minute markets.

Best Bets:

  • Giovani Lo Celso to score at any time in 90 minutes at 18/5 with Unibet
  • Both Teams to Score at 4/6 with William Hill

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