It is hardly a surprise that most pundits are predicting a home win when Stoke City go to Wembley to play Tottenham tomorrow.
The good news is that none of them believes a misfiring Spurs will repeat the 4-0 batterings they have handed out on the last three occasions they have taken on the Potters.
In fact, the Londoners are without a win in their last four Premier League games and have drop points to the likes of Swansea, West Brom and Burnley on the wide open spaces of Wembley this term.
But despite all of that, big-name pundits like Paul Merson, Mark Lawrenson and one-time Stoke striker Micheal Owen are all backing Spurs to get their season back on track by beating Mark Hughes’ team.
In his predictions column for Sky Sports, Merson is tipping a 3-0 home win, and says: “On that big pitch, I think Spurs will just have too much for Stoke.
“Against Swansea, Stoke fell over the line, but sometimes when you win a game like that, everything is rosy. However, on this big pitch, Tottenham are too good for Stoke. And Tottenham need to win this game. Otherwise they will be struggling for the top four.”
Interviewed by the BBC, Lawrenson says: “Stoke came from 1-0 down against Swansea to get a much-needed win and stop their slide a little bit.
“Tottenham’s form in the Champions League has been impressive and although they have dropped some points in the Premier League recently, I only see that as a blip, nothing more.
“I think it is fair to say that some of their players just have not reached the heights they did last season. That happens, and it can change very quickly, so I am predicting a 2-0 home win.”
It’s a similar story from Owen in his weekly Metro column: He says: “Spurs have disappointed in the Premier League so far this term and they badly need to get back to winning ways if they are to mount a top-four challenge.
“Premier League history will be made at Wembley if the hosts beat Stoke by four or more goals, given that Spurs have won the last three games between the sides 4-0.
“No side has ever beaten another opponent by four or more goals in four successive top-flight games, but a return to winning ways in the league is far more important for the north London outfit. For that reason, I see Tottenham winning 2-0.”