*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Tottenham (-1)
Tottenham have recovered well from a poor run of form over Christmas to win their last three games in all competitions, scoring ten and conceding none, although their opponents have hardly been world beaters.
Their win against a naïve Leeds side was by far their most impressive win of the lot, while their victory at Marine was to be expected. The League Cup semi-final win against Brentford, meanwhile, further exemplified Jose Mourinho’s defensive tactics.
Mourinho has increasingly resorted to defensive football this season, costing Spurs points against Crystal Palace and Wolves, but he will almost certainly employ them again against Fulham on Wednesday.
Wednesday, 8.15pm: Tottenham v Fulham
Amazon Prime Video
DON’T MISS: Paddy Power punter pockets £2k off £5 fourfold thanks to last-gasp goal
Spurs will almost definitely set up to hit Fulham on the counterattack, a tactic that will cost them any real chance of winning the Premier League. However, it should be enough to overcome their London rivals on Wednesday.
Fulham have made huge strides since their embarrassing start to the season and are unbeaten in their last four, drawing four games on the bounce. But Scott Parker’s side have failed to win any of those games and have only scored twice in their last five league games. They will struggle to break a rigid Spurs side down and could be yet another victim of Mourinho’s most trusted tactic.
Top tips for Thursday:
- Arsenal to see off Palace in this 8/1 Bet Builder
- TRADER TIPS: Expect goals to flow as Arsenal tackle Palace
Both teams to score? No
Fulham have tightened up what was a porous defence in the early stages of the season but are still struggling at the other end. Only West Brom, Burnley and Sheffield United have scored less league goals this year – sides that are not exactly renowned for their goalscoring exploits – and they have managed just one goal in their last three away games.
That goal came in the form of a Matt Ritchie own-goal at Newcastle, so a Fulham player hasn’t found the back of the net away from Craven Cottage since their impressive win over Leicester at the end of November. Spurs will prove a very tough nut to crack for Parker’s misfiring side and it is difficult to see them breaching Hugo Lloris’s goal on Wednesday.
Son Heung-Min to score anytime
Spurs’s South Korean forward is one of the most reliable anytime goalscorer bets in the Premier League at present, boasting an unparalleled conversion rate among the division’s top scorers. Son has scored 12 goals in the league this season from just 21 shots – a conversion rate of 57 per cent – while a staggering 81 per cent of his efforts have been on target.
His numbers are unsustainable, and he will eventually go through a barren spell, but he is the perfect player for Mourinho’s counterattacking system. He should have chances against Fulham on Wednesday and it’s hard to see him missing given his current form.
Spurs to score over 1.5 goals in the first half
Spurs tend to strike early and often in the games that they win this season, regularly taking the lead inside half an hour then adding a second before halftime and sitting on their lead for most of the second half. It is a tactic that has proved costly – most notably against Crystal Palace, Wolves, and West Ham – but it also proved effective in the wins against Arsenal, Leeds, and Manchester City. All told, Spurs have scored in the first half in 11 of their 17 league games this season and in all four of their home league wins.
They have scored twice or more in the first half on four occasions, while they have scored nine goals inside the first 15 minutes of league games. They have a tendency to hit teams early and Mourinho will be desperate to put this one to bed as soon as possible ahead of a trip to Sheffield United on Sunday.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change
Tottenham v Fulham bets
Tottenham (-1)
Both teams to score? No
Son Heung-Min to score anytime
Spurs to score over 1.5 goals in the first half
*A Paddy Power Bet Builder on these four best bets pays at approximately 11/1
NOT SURE WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT? CLICK HERE TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT A BET BUILDER IS
BET BUILDER ACCA INSURANCE
If one leg of your 4+ fold Bet Builder lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Bet Builder Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
Read More:
- Paddy’s Hall of Fame: Last-gasp goal sees punter pocket £2k off £5 fourfold
- Charlie Nicholas: I’d welcome Wenger back at Arsenal – he can help Arteta
- Man City buy 15th trophy of Sheikh Mansour’s reign