Tottenham v West Ham

Last updated : 17 March 2011 By BBC Sport

Tottenham defender William Gallas is a doubt after pulling up in training on Tuesday, although a scan revealed he has not damaged his hamstring.Gareth Bale should be fit despite a midweek injury scare and may start his first game for two months, but Wilson Palacios is out after knee surgery.

West Ham midfielder Gary O'Neil, who was cup-tied for last week's FA Cup defeat at Stoke, returns to the squad.

On-loan striker Robbie Keane is fit but is ineligible to face his parent club.

Tottenham

Doubtful: Bale (back/thigh), Gallas (hamstring)

Injured: Huddlestone (ankle), Kaboul & Palacios (both knee), Woodgate (groin)

West Ham

Doubtful: Stanislas (hernia)

Injured/unavailable: Collison & Kurucz (both knee), Keane (ineligible)

MATCH PREVIEW

Having recently beaten off competition from Tottenham to take over the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, West Ham look to rub salt in Spurs' wounds by claiming a first win at White Hart Lane since 1999, when Harry Redknapp was Hammers manager.

Now we can just concentrate on the league and just get our nut down to try and get as far up the table as possible

West Ham striker Carlton Cole

The east Londoners did the league double over Tottenham that season, but have lost on seven of their subsequent 10 trips to the Lane in all competitions and have not scored on Spurs' soil since 2005.

However, current Hammers boss Avram Grant has fond memories of facing Tottenham, having masterminded Portsmouth's shock win against them in an FA Cup semi-final last season. Grant's first league victory at West Ham also came against Tottenham, with Frederic Piquionne's header proving decisive when the sides met on 25 September.

This will be Spurs' first Premier League game at White Hart Lane for six weeks. While they produced two superb defensive displays to shut out nine-time European champions AC Milan, Harry Redknapp's side have looked less assured on domestic duty; they conceded six goals in the two league matches sandwiched between the Milan games.

The Spurs defence could be in for another uncomfortable afternoon against a West Ham side that has scored 15 times in their last five league and cup matches.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Ham beat Tottenham 1-0 in September, ending a run of five successive Spurs wins in this fixture.

• The Hammers' last victory at White Hart Lane was a 2-1 win on 24 April 1999. Harry Redknapp was the West Ham manager that day, while the visitors' team sheet included Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Ian Wright.

Tottenham

• Spurs have dropped points in five of nine Premier League games which followed Champions League duty. Three of their six league losses this term came off the back of European action, including their only home defeat (against Wigan in August).

• That slip-up against Wigan is their only loss in the last 24 top-flight matches at White Hart Lane. They have won five of their last seven home league games, drawing the other two (against Chelsea and Manchester United).

• Jermain Defoe's brace against Wolves ended his 11-month wait for a top-flight goal. His next strike will be his 100th in the Premier League.

• Harry Redknapp's side have gained an unrivalled 21 Premier League points from losing positions this season.

West Ham

• Demba Ba has scored four goals in three league starts for the Hammers.

• The Hammers have taken 11 points from the last possible 18, as have Tottenham. Only three clubs have better recent records; Arsenal (14), Liverpool and Chelsea (both 13).

• West Ham players have been caught offside 96 times this term, the highest figure in the top flight.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Tottenham

Van der Vaart: 12 goals (10 league); Bale & Pavlyuchenko: 11 goals (7 league)

West Ham

Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league); Obinna: 8 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: Stephen Child & Darren Bond

Fourth official: Phil Crossley

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Tottenham (D3-3 v Wolves, a): Gomes; Hutton, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Pienaar (Bale 69), Jenas, Sandro, Modric (Kranjcar 84), Defoe, Pavlyuchenko (Lennon 74). Subs not used: Cudicini, Palacios, Crouch, Bassong.

West Ham (W3-0 v Stoke, h): Green; Tomkins, Upson, da Costa, Bridge, Noble, Parker (Gabbidon 90), Hitzlsperger, Piquionne, Cole (Obinna 86), Ba (O'Neil 82). Subs not used: Boffin, Spector, Hines, Jacobsen.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport