Premier League 
/ Lee Dixon / 11 February 2012 / 4 Comments 
Senegal duo Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse can form a formidable partnership for Newcastle
"All these factors mean the draw has appeal at [4.6] but I actually prefer the lay of Spurs. I wouldn’t be that surprised if Newcastle actually won the match so I’d rather cover that eventuality too."
Newcastle keep on improving and in Papiss Cisse they've recruited a dangerous attacker who can form a super partnership with Demba Ba. The former can score at White Hart Lane and help Newcastle to earn at least a draw.
We'll have to wait and see whether Harry Redknapp takes the England job or not. For all we know, he doesn't want it at this moment in time. But all the speculation about it won't be doing him or Tottenham any good at the moment when they have an in-form Newcastle making the trip to White Hart Lane.
Tottenham's match away at Liverpool wasn't exactly a classic but Redknapp will have seen it as a good point earned at a ground where the home side very seldom gets beaten. This match is a different story though and the Spurs boss will be seeing it as one that he really needs to win if his side are to stay in the title race.
The Betfair market makes them [1.53] to do just that but I'm not so sure about that price. Newcastle may be missing Cheick Tiote (international duty), Johan Cabaye (suspension) and probably Ryan Taylor as well for this match (injury) but they've done well in their absences and, in Demba Ba, they have their star and talisman back and in-form, not to mention his mate Papiss Cisse. More on him later. Opta tell us that Spurs have won only two of their last 10 games against Newcastle but on the other hand they've lost just one of their last 29 home matches in the league.
All these factors mean the draw has appeal at [4.6] but I actually prefer the lay of Spurs. I wouldn't be that surprised if Newcastle actually won the match so I'd rather cover that eventuality too.
The over/under 2.5 goals market looks a tough one to call. My preference would just about be for over 2.5 goals but then again 1-1 is a lively runner ahead of this match, too. Confused? Let me try and explain and find the better bet then. We'll leave the 1-1 alone because that scoreline would already be a winner with our lay of Spurs and instead back 'yes' on the 'both teams to score' market. Newcastle have some serious firepower with that duo I've already mentioned and I'd be absolutely amazed if Spurs don't get at least one playing at home. So that looks the call at [1.9].
To Score
It always takes time to adapt when you start playing in a new league but one of the advantages of being new to it are that opposing players may not know so much about you. Papiss Cisse is a good example of that. Premier League defenders probably won't have seen much of him so far given he hasn't featured in the Champions League and didn't really catch the eye at the African Cup of Nations. It's one thing having a plan of how to mark a Robin van Persie or a Darren Bent whose games you're so familiar with, even if they end up scoring anyway, it's another to have a plan for one whose strengths and weaknesses you don't know so much about.
Cisse looked good last Sunday, coming short to receive the ball, moving well when not in possession of it and scoring a cracking goal. I was watching the game with former England international Dion Dublin who said that his gangly running style and the way he controls the ball and shoots reminded him of Nwankwo Kanu. I can see where he's coming from and if he ends up being as good as my former Arsenal team-mate then Newcastle have some player on their hands. Demba Ba is the one with the amazing scoring record - 16 goals in his last 16 matches in the league - but my money is on Cisse to get a goal for Newcastle on Saturday.
2 pts Lay Spurs @ [1.53]
3 pts Back both teams to score @[1.9]
Back Papiss Cisse to score @ [4.2]
Michael Cox says
There will probably be goals in this game, but [2.32] for 'Under 2.5 goals' seems a little overpriced. Spurs weren't much of a goal threat away at Anfield on Monday night, and Emmanuel Adebayor is having a mid-season slump - he hasn't scored for eight games. Newcastle, meanwhile, can be a little too cautious on the road, and with Yohan Cabaye and Ryan Taylor likely to be out, they lack long-range goal threats. They depend too much on their Senegalese duo upfront and, with Michael Dawson superb at Anfield and probably able to keep them quiet, I'll be on unders at that price.
Recommended Bet
Back under 2.5 goals @ [2.32]
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