Team news and expected line-up vs Sunderland

2-0 down to a Burnley side without in-form strike duo Danny Ings and Ashley Barnes, you can imagine the thoughts running through my mind about how I was going to be writing this preview for our game against Sunderland tomorrow!

Thankfully, after going two goals behind, we seemed to wake up and hit back with four unanswered goals to book our place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. And with that, my mind-set went full circle and I was preparing an article with contrasting views to ones I was feeling at 8.00pm on Wednesday evening.

Momentum

The majority of Spurs fans would’ve been delighted to see us overturn the deficit and march on in the FA Cup, but I am sure there are a handful who are now bemoaning the fixture pile up following on from the midweek victory.

However, I fail to see that point of view at all. A loss on Wednesday, off the back of the disappointing defeat against Crystal Palace, would’ve left the White Hart Lane faithful extremely agitated. More than that though, supporters would arrive at the ground tomorrow in a despondent mood and of course that would end up rubbing off on the players.

Winning breeds confidence - not only amongst the squad, but also amongst the fans, and the importance of that is immeasurable.

At this time in the season, any side that can put together three or four wins on the spin can rocket up the league table. A bit of momentum now is exactly what Tottenham need if we are going to challenge Arsenal, Southampton and Manchester United for a top four spot.

It appears that the Head Coach agrees, stating earlier this week:

"It's a good thing for us because we are still in four competitions and it's important for the club.

"I think that we are the Premier League team who have played more official games than anyone, but it's a good challenge for us. It's for that reason it's important to have the strong squad, because you need players available to play.

"I'm not worried. We need to work hard and analyse every single decision and after try to keep our players fit for every game. It's important for that to go step by step, game by game. It's important to analyse every player and every single decision that we take."

Mackems in town

The visit of Sunderland tomorrow will provide us with a huge test and go a long way to showing if we have the ability and resolve to mount a serious push for Champions League football next season.

Deadly Defoe back at the Lane

While we knew we would be greeting one old Spurs face at the weekend in Sunderland’s manager, Gus Poyet, I don’t think many would’ve expected to be seeing Jermain Defoe donning the red and white of the north-east side.

Defoe had returned to Spurs this month to train with the club's development side recently in order to maintain his fitness ahead of a potential return to the Premier League, and I half expected us to be the side that secured his services on a loan deal until the end of the season.

However, Poyet decided to take the gamble and has signed the former Spurs man with the hope that his goals will ensure Premier League survival.

Less than a year after leaving North London for Toronto FC, he joins the Premier League’s second-lowest scorers, who have won only three league games this season. And after receiving international clearance, Defoe could make his debut for Gus Poyet's side when they visit White Hart Lane on Saturday.

What they said

When Spurs travelled to The Stadium of Light in September, the game finished in a 2-2 draw with Sunderland twice coming from behind to salvage a point.

Mentioning the fighting spirit his side showed in that match, Sunderland full back Billy Jones said:

"We have got to look back at the games where we took points from Manchester United (1-1), Chelsea (0-0) and of course Tottenham, because we have already shown that we can compete with the top teams and we can take great confidence in that.

"One thing that was evident when Tottenham came to the Stadium of Light was that they're a very good team, but we did really well that day and worked incredibly hard to seal a positive result."

While fringe players were used in the midweek win against Burnley, expect Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino to bring back the likes of Lloris, Eriksen and Kane.

Nonetheless, the Argentinian was pleased with the impact players such as Capoue and Paulinho had, commenting:

"I'm happy for them, it's good to have players that push in the squad and make my decision difficult every week.”

Squad selection

It looks as though Ryan Mason's hamstring injury will keep him on the sidelines while Erik Lamela continues to struggle with a calf problem.

For the Black Cats, Steven Fletcher and Lee Cattermole (both groin) are doubtful, while Liam Bridcutt is suspended following his red card against Liverpool.

Verdict

Anything less than three points will be seen as not good enough by Pochettino and the supporters, but I am confident that we will be celebrating come 5pm Saturday evening.

Expected line-up

Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Stambouli, Dembele, Eriksen, Chadli, Townsend; Kane.

 

Soldado instead of Townsend

 

Davies instead of Rose. Soldado instead of Townsend.Paulinho instead of Capoue

 

Considering last two games against Palace and Burnley, Poch might go with this XI:

Lloris
Walker, Dier (Fazio if fit), Vertonghen, Davies
Stambouli, Paulinho
Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli
Kane

 

Lloris
Walker Fazio Vert Davies
Capoue Dembele
Lennon Eriksen Chadli
Kane

Doubts about Fazio being fit so olease not Kaboul, havnt seen much of Dier? Paulinho was decent against Burnley might get another run to shop him around before the end of the window.