Tottenham Ahead in Premier League Race

Spurs opened the 2011-12 season with two heavy defeats but have managed to recover the lost ground to put themselves in a stronger position compared with the same stage of the season last year.

At present Tottenham are sitting in sixth position in the Premier League  with a game in hand on all other teams around them.  The postponement of the opening day fixture against Everton because of the riots near the White Hart Lane immediately put Spurs at a disadvantage and this was compounded when their next games were against the two Manchester clubs who made a flying start to the new season.  So when all the other teams had played three games Spurs found themselves pointless and at the bottom of the League.

Now, after seven games Spurs have made a remarkable recovery by accumulating thirteen points from four wins and a draw.  Four successive wins against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool, Wigan Athletic and Arsenal have brought confidence to the team and raised expectations for the season.  The draw at Newcastle United who maintained their undefeated start to the season, could so easily have been another three points but for an excellent strike for the equalising goal, three minutes from time, as the home side recovered from a goal deficit for the second time.

After 7 games (4 away), Spurs are currently in 6th place with 13 points, having played one match less than everyone else.

Last season, at the same stage (3 away), Spurs were occupying 5th position but with only 11 points and having played the same number of games as those around them.

The comparison of fixtures played shows how Spurs are 5 points up on the same matches last season.

Manchester Utd (a)   -

Manchester City (h) - 1

Wolves (a) + 2

Liverpool (h)  -

Wigan Ath (a)  + 2

Arsenal (h)  + 2

Newcastle Utd (a)   -

This season's results show a positive score of 5 points but to maintain that progress Spurs need to win a number of their future games where they were successful last season - at Blackburn Rovers, at Fulham and at home to Aston Villa.  They also need to be positive against Queens Park Rangers to boost the points differential as Spursrecord against promoted sides last year was poor.  They drew with both Blackpool and West Bromwich at home, while Newcastle were the only promoted to leave White Hart Lane without any points.