5th Jan 2020 | FA Cup
Hometown Hero
Spurs must be dreading a trip to the north east with players short of character and facing opponents who have suddenly won four on the spin.
Jonathan Woodgate endured a pretty wretched start to life back at Middlesbrough, this time as manager, winning just two of his first 17 league matches in charge. But Steve Gibson has a proud record of standing by his man, and suddenly the Smoggies are flying with four straight wins coming into this FA Cup clash.
In this context, and at home, Boro look capable of outrunning best odds of 5/1 with BetVictor to send Tottenham packing. If Woodgate’s narrow home wins over Stoke and Huddersfield felt necessary, the subsequent away successes at promotion-chasing West Brom and Preston have created a buzz in the town.
This is bad news for Jose Mourinho who has had plenty of that lately anyway following defeat at Southampton and injury to Harry Kane.
Spurs didn’t win away in the Premier League between January and November and have now gone a year without a clean sheet on the road. They’ll do well to claim a replay on current form.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 08:50 5th Jan, 2020 but subject to change