Middlesbrough vs Tottenham Preview

Tottenham travel to the Riverside with only one injury, defender Alan Hutton misses the league opener with a foot problem.

Middlesbrough are without defenders Julio Arca and Chris Riggot but midfielder Gary O’Neil has passed a late fitness test.

Spurs skipper Ledley King is set to start after missing the end of last season to fully recover from his ongoing knee injury.

EXPECTED TEAMS.

Middlesbrough- Turnbull, Williams, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Walker, Digard, O’Neil, Downing(c), Alves, Mido

Tottenham- Gomes, Zokora, King(c), Woodgate, Bale, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, Modric, Berbatov, Bent 

MIDDLESBROUGH MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE;

“As a club we’ve only had two top-10 finishes in the Premier League so that is a target, as well a best finish of seventh and that’s a target too.”

“At the same time, it’s important we play attractive football.”

TOTTENHAM MANAGER JUANDE RAMOS

“I believe Tottenham is a massive club, and that we can be compared to Manchester United or any of the top four clubs in England.”

LATEST ODDS (TOTE SPORT)

Middlesbrough/Middlesbrough 4/1, Middlesbrough/Draw 14/1, Middlesbrough/Tottenham 25/1, Draw/Middlesbrough 5/1, Draw/Tottenham 9/2, Tottenham/Middlesbrough 28/1, Tottenham/Draw 14/1, Tottenham/Tottenham 11/4, Draw/Draw 4/1

 FIRST GOALSCORER

Darren Bent 11/8, Afonso Alves 13/8, Dimitar Berbatov 13/8, Tuncay Sanli 2/1,       Didier Zokora 50/1.

MY VERDICT.

Tottenham to win 2-1, Bentley and Jenas to score for Spurs, Alves to score for Middlesbrough.