Home and Away: Spurs won't waste chance to leapfrog Chelsea

25Feb 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner scours the continent for his two Home and Away selections - and focuses on the top tiers in Germany and England.

We're off to Germany for our first pick - and it's a top of the table clash, as second placed Hertha Berlin host third side Kaiserslautern at the Olympic Stadium.

Jos Luhukay's side are in the midst of a 20 game unbeaten run, and that consistency looks set to fire them to promotion this campaign - as the Berlin side sit clear of fourth place by 13 points.

The hosts struggled to get going in last weeks outing against Aalen, but still came out with a 1-0 victory on the road, and it is that consistency which has fared the hosts so well this season.

Ten goals scored in their last four 2.Bundesliga clashes suggests that Luhukay has spent well on the attacking quality in his side, and the home boss has practically a full squad to choose from this evening with his squad in good health.

Visitors Kaiserslautern will be keen to pick up a positive result in this clash in order to narrow the gap between themselves and their hosts - and they are in decent form too.

But Franco Foda's side haven't looked great on their travels of late, and just one win from their last nine on the road suggests that they may struggle in this one.

A key absence for the visitors will be top scorer Mohammadou Idrissou, who was sent off in their last outing - a 0-0 stalemate at Duisburg.

That is likely to cost Kaiserslautern, who have only scored more than a goal on one occasion in their last 10 games, and they will have to look for new ways to breach the home rearguard.

Hertha have lost to their guests just once in their last nine meetings, and I fancy the momentum of the home side to help them come out on top in this key tie.

Bet 1: Hertha Berlin (HOME) @ 1.91

Back to more familiar climes now, and switching our attentions to a London derby - as West Ham United welcome Spurs to the Boleyn Ground, looking to improve on some miserable form in recent weeks.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce will be feeling the pressure following three defeats from four clashes, and that leaves the Claret and Blues sitting just six points outside the dropzone with around a third of the season to play.

Just one clean sheet from their last 11 points to weaknesses in the home defence, and that is something that the visitors will be looking to take advantage of as they aim to overtake Chelsea and jump into third place in the Premier League.

But it's not just the Hammers backline which has been struggling lately. The hosts have not scored more than a single goal since New Year's Day - and the fact that midfielder Kevin Nolan is their top scorer with six goals tells its own story.

Andre Villas-Boas' side have not lost in 10 league outings, and it is exactly that kind of consistency that the North London side will need to continue if they are to maintain their challenge for a top three finish.

Five unbeaten away from White Hart Lane - and three clean sheets in that time - underlines just how difficult to beat the visitors have become this campaign, and only Manchester United and Chelsea have a better away record so far this season.

Spurs go into this one with no new injury worries, and will be desperate to continue their recent positive performances - boosted by that last gasp equaliser in Lyon which secured their place in the next round of the Europa League.

History certainly favours the visitors, who have lost just one of their last dozen meetings with their hosts - and I'm backing the same result this evening.

Bet 2: Tottenham Hotspur (AWAY) @ 2.28