Preview and Prediction: NK Maribor v Tottenham (From Haringey Independent)

Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas looks to get back to winning ways against Maribor in the Europa League

11:42am Thursday 25th October 2012 in Spurs By Tom Allnutt

Team news

Tottenham will be looking to get back to winning ways against NK Maribor tonight after their unbeaten run came to an end against Chelsea last Saturday.

Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor have not travelled for the Europa League tie after the winger's partner gave birth at the weekend while Adebayor is out with a back injury.

Mousa Dembele (hip) and Scott Parker (Achilles) are also ruled out while Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul are still recovering from knee injuries.

Hugo Lloris is likely to replace Brad Friedel in goal after the French number one was rotated out for the game against Chelsea.

What the manager says

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said: "I think these two games with Maribor is going to be the decisive point of the group phase. 

"A point will not be a bad result as it will keep us tight with Maribor. Lazio can escape if they beat Panathinaikos.

"But our two games with Maribor will be decisive. After those we will see where we stand, before we have a home game with Panathinaikos and a difficult trip to Lazio."

Maribor coach Darko Milanic: "Ahead of us is an important and difficult ordeal. We will have to be great if we want to achieve a positive result.

"With the great support from the stands we are capable of this."

Where it will be won and lost

Tottenham struggled in defence against Chelsea and while Maribor will not provide the same quality in the final third as Di Matteo's side, they are an open, attacking side.

Being away from home, Spurs will have to defend some parts of the game and much will depend on whether they can cut out individual errors and keep it tight at the back.

Tottenham will likely score, but it's what happens at the other end that could decide whether they take all three points back to north London.

Prediction

Spurs may well concede but they should have enough going forward to make amends.

Tottenham win 2-1

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