(Manchester United News)
It has felt like a season of steady progress for Tottenham Hotspur, and with Mauricio Pochettino’s side just three points behind Manchester United, the Argentinian will be looking for his team to push on and improve on last season’s sixth-placed finish.
It won’t be easy: Spurs are currently in that same spot with fellow Champions League-place chasers Southampton and Manchester City to face during the run-in, along with relegation-threatened outfits like Leicester City, Burnley, Hull City and Everton.
United were once the definition of a ‘bogey team’ for Spurs: between September 2001 (when the Reds won 5-3 at White Hart Lane) and March 2012, the Reds won a remarkable 20 of the clubs' 26 meetings.
The North Londoners' worst results in that period included a 5-2 trouncing in April 2009 at Old Trafford, and a 4-0 defeat in February 2007 at White Hart Lane. And prior to 2012, you had to go back to December 1989 to find a Spurs victory at United's stadium.
But Tottenham have rid themselves of their hoodoo over the last two seasons, starting in September 2012 when they ended that 23-year wait for an Old Trafford win (3-2) with goals from Gareth Bale, Clint Dempsey and Jonny Evans (own goal) doing the damage. Then last season, on New Year's Day 2014, headers from Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen gave Spurs the spoils again (2-1).
One year on and Spurs have been in reasonable form in 2015 so far. After opening the New Year with the spectacular 5-3 thrashing of Chelsea, they have won six of their 10 games on the calendar, and have lost just once – a tight 3-2 defeat at Liverpool.
The emergence of homegrown Harry Kane up front has been a particular highlight for Spurs fans this term. The 21-year old Englishman has grabbed 16 Barclays Premier League goals, plus five in the Europa League and three in the Capital One Cup.
The tall forward has been named the top flight's Player of the Month for both January and February, with key moments including the two goals he scored to help Spurs beat Arsenal in the north London derby. Able to run in behind defenders, hold up play and score all kinds of goals, Kane is already being hailed as the future of English football - and on that note, he's committed his next five-and-a-half years to Spurs with a new contract.
Pochettino has the luxury of a fully fit squad to pick from for the United match. His side love to play a hard-pressing 4-2-3-1 style, epitomised by the tireless Ryan Mason in midfield, and with sweeper-keeper Hugo Lloris pushing up behind a high defensive line.
