Opinion: Predicting every Spurs result in March

While there were just three matches in February for Spurs, it was a forgettable stretch for a side that has now fallen outside of the...

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs result in March appeared first on The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

While there were just three matches in February for Spurs, it was a forgettable stretch for a side that has now fallen outside of the top four.

Currently sitting fifth in the table, Tottenham are five points off Aston Villa but do have a match in hand on Unai Emery’s side.

With four matches in a month that features a two-week international break, can Spurs regain momentum in the race for a Champions League place? 

Saturday, March 2: vs. Crystal Palace

Spurs begin the month of March with a London Derby fixture against the Eagles, a club that recently made a managerial change.

Roy Hodgson is out, and Oliver Glasner is the new man in charge at Palace, a side struggling in 13th place in the table.

Will a new voice lead to a change in results for Crystal Palace? Glasner won in his debut last time out against Burnley but will face a much stiffer challenge in Spurs, a side hunting down a Champions League spot.

Spurs will want to take the full three points in this match, but it may depend on which version of the Eagles shows up.

Will it be the side who beat European place contenders Manchester United and took points from Manchester City and West Ham? Or will we see more of the team that was hammered by Arsenal, Brighton, and Chelsea and lost to Luton Town?

We will find out on Saturday if Glasner can pull the upset in his second match on the sidelines at Palace.

Prediction: Spurs 2–1 Crystal Palace

Sunday, March 10: at Aston Villa

Following a London Derby test, Spurs will face the club they have recently fallen behind in the battle for a UCL place.

Getting a result at Villa Park will be a difficult ask of Spurs, even if Villa’s 17-match home unbeaten run in the league has been followed by back-to-back home defeats.

Unai Emery has done a remarkable job turning Villa from a relegation-threatened side into a potential UCL qualifier in a mere 15 months, as Spurs are now playing catch-up in the table.

Aston Villa’s depth will be tested in this match, as they will be playing their second of four matches in a ten-day window, which includes a pair of tough knockout round ties with Ajax in the Europa Conference League.

Seeing as Spurs have no European or domestic cup matches to congest the schedule, this may be an opportunity to earn a point – or even three – against a side that will have just played the Thursday before this fixture.

Prediction: Spurs 2–2 Aston Villa

Saturday, March 16: at Fulham

Travelling away to Craven Cottage, Tottenham will face another inter-city opponent in its final match before a two-week international break.

It seems Spurs have had a knack of dropping points to sides that many expect them to beat lately, and this very well could be a match where this occurs.

Allowing a late equaliser against Everton and falling to Wolves in two of their last three matches, Tottenham will want to get back to securing all three points as they look to move back up the table.

Fulham currently sits 12th in the Premier League standings but have shown they can cause problems for sides higher in the table.

The Cottagers – who knocked Spurs out of the League Cup in August – have recorded victories versus West Ham, Arsenal, and Manchester United, while giving Liverpool all they could handle in close defeats in both the Premier League and EFL Cup semifinals.

As we’ve already seen this campaign, a win for Tottenham at Craven Cottage is no guarantee.

Prediction: Fulham 2–1 Spurs

Saturday, March 30: vs. Luton Town

Following a two-week break, Spurs will close the month with a home fixture against newly promoted Luton Town.

As of this writing, Luton is 18th in the table with 20 points from 25 matches, four points from safety in the bid to stay up in the Premier League.

While the Hatters are a fantastic story as they’ve risen back to relevancy following relegations and financial struggles, it appears they may not have enough to avoid dropping back to the Championship next campaign.

Luton’s struggles are highlighted particularly on the defensive side, where they have allowed 51 goals, the third-highest number in the league.

Spurs should have no trouble scoring multiple goals in this match but should expect a tough battle from a side fighting for survival that has given some of the big-name clubs a headache this season.

Prediction: Spurs 3–1 Luton Town

Final analysis

Sitting fifth in the table to start the month, Spurs need to string together results as they try to push their way back into the Champions League places.

With four matches during the month, I predict Tottenham to secure seven of a possible 12 points. This would leave them with 54 points through Matchweek 30, although Spurs will have played 29 fixtures.

Through 29 matches last season, Tottenham was sitting in nearly the same spot (fifth in the table with 50 points) they could be in this campaign when March comes to an end.

This likely means Spurs will still be in the hunt for the top four, but likely sitting in fifth position. While the club would want to secure a guaranteed UCL spot by getting into fourth place, it is possible fifth could get them there as well if other English sides perform well in Europe.

Can Spurs get back into a Champions League place by the start of April?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs result in March appeared first on The Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.