Tottenham bounce back and switch focus to cup football again
Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen scores his side's second goal during the Premier League match at Cardiff City (pic: Mark Kerton/PA Images). - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Spurs visit Tranmere Rovers on Friday in the FA Cup before they host Chelsea on Tuesday in the League Cup semi-final first leg
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium (pic: John Walton/PA Images). - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Spurs can sit back and watch on intently when Manchester City and Liverpool do battle on Thursday night comfortable in the knowledge they are in the mix.
Tottenham Hotspur’s impressive 3-0 win away to Cardiff City on New Year’s Day saw them return to winning ways in the division.
After ending 2018 with a shock 3-1 home loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Mauricio Pochettino watched his team respond in the best possible fashion in Wales.
It means ahead of the 8pm kick-off at the Etihad, Spurs are second with 48 points from 21 games in the Premier League.
Given all the problems they’ve faced, it is a great achievement and the Lilywhites will still be comfortably in the top-four by the time they next return to league action.
Manchester United will travel to Wembley Stadium on January 13, but before that clash Tottenham have two important cup games.
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The stick Pochettino and this group of players are often beaten with, when praise is given Spurs’ way, is the fact they have yet to win a trophy or any silverware.
It is a valid argument, but this season they appear to have an excellent chance of ending their barren run.
Not since 2008 has a Tottenham manager enjoyed success when it comes to winning a tournament and strangely it was Spanish boss Juande Ramos.
Tottenham players celebrate after winning the Carling Cup back in 2008 at Wembley Stadium (pic: PA Images). - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
He didn’t last long in N17, but in his short time there he did win a trophy and Pochettino will hope to follow in his footsteps.
Tottenham will start their FA Cup campaign on Friday with an upset a possibility away to Tranmere Rovers in front of the BT Sport cameras (7.45pm kick-off).
The League Two club were in the National League last season, but have fared well since they went up via the play-offs and will fancy a shock in the third round tie.
Spurs needed replays to see off Newport County and Rochdale in the 2017/18 FA Cup campaign and must not underestimate Micky Mellon’s Rovers.
A better chance of winning a trophy comes in the shape of this season’s League Cup with the club already in the semi-finals.
On Tuesday, the Lilywhites will look to put one foot in the final when rivals Chelsea visit Wembley and a repeat of the 3-1 league victory from November 24 would be welcome.
Tottenham would probably have preferred to play the second leg at home, but they will be confident of taking a lead to West London.
It is a huge opportunity for Spurs to get through to a final and with Tranmere plying their trade in League Two, don’t be surprised to see Harry Kane and some other key personnel rested on Friday.
