EPL ~ Tottenham v Chelsea ; Bale could miss Chelsea clash
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Bale blow for Spurs as manager Redknapp admits winger could miss Chelsea clash
Fitness fight: Spurs winger Gareth Bale (centre) has an ankle injury
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Tottenham v Chelsea 4:00am (Fri Morning) Mio 102 / 110
Tottenham may have to do without Gareth Bale for Thursday's crunch clash against Chelsea after manager Harry Redknapp revealed the pacy winger is struggling with an ankle injury.
Bale sprained his ankle during training on Friday and missed Sunday's 1-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
The Londoners felt Bale's absence dearly as they lacked the pace and penetration the Welshman offers in devastating fashion down the left flank, and they received another blow when Aaron Lennon had to come off in the first half with a suspected hamstring tear.
The England winger will have a scan on the injury and will definitely miss Thursday night's derby, while Bale is also a doubt.Redknapp said: 'Bale has sprained his ankle. He just did it in training. He thought it was okay, then he went home had a little rest and couldn't put any weight on it.'
The Spurs boss is more confident about Jermain Defoe's chances of being available.
The striker also sat out the win over Sunderland, which came courtesy of a Roman Pavlyuchenko strike, because of a hamstring problem but should be available for the game against the Blues.
Early exit: Aaron Lennon limped off during the first half against Sunderland
'Lennon has got no chance for Thursday. It'll be weeks if it's a tear,' Redknapp said.
'There's every chance Defoe will be fit. He's only got a grade one tear and he's desperate to play, the little fella.'
Sunderland went back to Wearside unlucky not to have taken a point in what was Martin O'Neill's second game in charge.
The Black Cats dominated parts of the first half and would have scored had Brad Friedel not saved well from Kieran Richardson and Sebastian Larsson.
Optimistic: Jermain Defoe could be in the Spurs side to face Chelsea
O'Neill's tenure at the Stadium of Light started well after his team came from behind to snatch a victory against Blackburn, but the euphoria around Sunderland soon made way for disappointment after it emerged that Nicklas Bendtner and Lee Cattermole had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
'I have spoken to them,' O'Neill said of the duo, who both started the game on the bench.
'What you have to do is wait for legal process to run its course.'
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hope Spurs can win it without Bale and Lennon
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Think Chelsea will thrash Spurs.
Who wants to bet that Torres will start?
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Torres will start
but will not score goal
Pavlyuchenko will be starting -
Originally posted by charlize:
Think Chelsea will thrash Spurs.
Who wants to bet that Torres will start?
how to thrash spurs?
cannot even win wigan lol..
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Fancy Spurs for this game.
Spurs at home this season has been terrific.
Think Spurs will finish higher than chelsea this season.