Preview & Prediction: Norwich v Tottenham (From Haringey Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur face Norwich City at Carrow Road in the last 16 of the Capital One Cup

12:34pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Sport By Tom Allnutt

Team news

Andre Villas-Boas is likely to ring the changes as his team faces their third match in seven days. 

Emmanuel Adebayor, Mousa Dembele and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are close to fitness but are unlikely to be risked while Younes Kaboul and Scott Parker are unavailable.

Hugo Lloris should start in goal and there could also be spots for the likes of Adam Smith, Iago Falque and Andros Townsend.

Russell Martin is a doubt for Norwich after coming off against Aston Villa at half time with a back problem.

What the managers say

Coach Steffen Freund said: "This is a chance to win some silverware.

"We beat Carlisle away after a good performance last time, especially in the second half. To go there and win 3-0 wasn't easy, although now we are playing a Premier League side away.

"The Southampton game was an important win for us, though. We are fourth in the table for the first time and that is really positive for all of us. It was a great atmosphere in training."

Chris Hughton said: "Tottenham are a wonderful club that play a fabulous brand of football.

"We don't know what side they will put out and they're perhaps in a different place now compared to then (when Houghton was assistant manager from 1998-2008).

"Their season is going well now. They have a lot of quality in the team but the fact we gave a good account of ourselves at White Hart Lane gives us confidence that we will do okay.

"We're at home and we must make sure we'll give our crowd plenty to cheer about."

Where it will be won and lost

Norwich are enjoying a mini-recovery after beating Arsenal at home and drawing to Aston Villa away last weekend - where they could easily have taken home all three points.

Grant Holt has started the last three matches, scoring three goals in four, and if Norwich are to threaten Tottenham's defence they will surely need him on the pitch.

But both Hughton and Villas-Boas are likely to freshen up their line-ups and this result could be decided on what happens before, not after kick-off.

If Spurs play anything nearing their strongest team they will have too much for the Canaries but if they don't, this game could well go the distance.

Prediction

1-1 at full time, Tottenham win 2-1 aet