Spurs ring in the new year with a trip to Cardiff to take on Neil Warnock's Bluebirds, looking to rebound after their second half capitulation vs Wolves at Wembley on Saturday. The loss was the fourth time this season, and third time in the PL, that Spurs have lost when holding a second half lead. Those nine points are the difference between us and Liverpool at the business end of the table, and if we are to recover our form we will need to sharpen up at the defensive end, where we have conceded five goals in the past three games. The absence of Jan Vertonghen, Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele is proving to be costly, as our makeshift midfield 2 of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko, in addition to constantly giving the ball away, was overrun in the second half against Wolves and provided no protection for the back four. Cardiff have punched above their weight and the fact that they have gotten to this point of the season on the right side of the relegation line is a testament to their team spirit, which we will have to match to get the three points. Expect plenty of long balls into the box, as Warnock sides are not known for tiki-taka football. A lot has changed since the only other time we've played at the Cardiff City Stadium (and Cardiff were wearing those ghastly red kits). AVB was our manager and sent on a certain Harry Kane as a late substitute in a 1-0 win courtesy of a Paulinho stoppage-time flick from an Erik Lamela pass.
I'm enjoying this. We need to be in our new home. At this point, I wonder if it's not disheartening for the team to play in Wembley for yet another game.
Sissoko's been great of recent, but crikey, sometimes when he gives it away you wonder how anyone could switch off like that with the ball at his feet.