Preview: Tottenham v Swans

16th September
First team

Swansea City head to Wembley this evening as they go in search of a first ever Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Swans have had a miserable time when facing Spurs since they were promoted to the top flight back in 2011.

In 12 encounters to date, there have been two draws and 10 Spurs victories.

Paul Clement’s team looked close to breaking the club’s Tottenham duck when the sides last met at the Liberty in April.

With 88 minutes on the clock, the Swans led thanks to an early Wayne Routledge goal.

But Dele Alli levelled for Spurs, who then scored two more goals in what was an agonising climax for the home side.

The Swans have never won a league game at Spurs in almost 90 years of trying, although this evening they will not be going to White Hart Lane.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team are playing home games at Wembley while their usual home is redeveloped, and they have struggled at times at the national stadium.

However, they saw off Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in midweek, while last weekend’s comfortable win at Everton was another sign of the class in Pochettino’s squad.

 

TEAM NEWS

Spurs are likely to be without Erik Lamela, Danny Rose, Victor Wanyama and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou through injury.

But Fernando Llorente is fit and hopes to make his Premier League debut for the Londoners following his deadline-day move from the Swans.

Clement has no new injury concerns, but Wilfried Bony is not yet ready to start following his move from Manchester City.

Nathan Dyer, Ki Sung-Yueng and Kyle Bartley all remain on the sidelines.

 

WHAT THEY SAID

Tottenham’s ex-Swan Ben Davies: “It was quite a surprising result (Swans 0 Newcastle 1). I expected them to do well but it wasn’t to be and we are just going to have hope there is no backlash from that result at the weekend.”

Swans boss Paul Clement: “We have gone away from home recently against some very good sides, played well and picked up some valuable points. There’s no reason why we can’t do that again.”

 

LAST SIX MEETINGS

5.4.17 Swans 1 Spurs 3

3.12.16 Spurs 5 Swans 0

28.2.16 Spurs 2 Swans 1

4.10.15 Swans 2 Spurs 2

4.3.15 Spurs 3 Swans 2

14.12.14 Swans 1 Spurs 2

 

LAST SIX LEAGUE MATCHES

Spurs: WWWLDW

Swans: WWDLWL

 

PRE-MATCH STATS

39 – It is 39 years since the Swans banked their one and only victory at Tottenham in 19 attempts. So memorable was the 3-1 League Cup success that it even gets a mention in the Swansea City song.

 

29 – Spurs will look to score in their 30th consecutive Premier League home game this evening. They last drew a blank on their own patch when they lost 1-0 to Leicester in January 2016.