Despite Tottenham's rather comical attempts to justify its status as member of football's high society, White Hart Lane is still a must-visit venue for Premiership newcomers like those who have turned their support of Barnsley this season into one long Christmas party.
Not many among this happy band bringing relief to the hardhearted business of chasing points and prizes would have believed that when this particular fixture came around, they would be in better health than their hosts. Probably, as great a number as would be expecting a Tottenham manager to implore his side to take their cue from the Yorkshireman.
Christian Gross, that inveterate tube-traveller who will soon think it prudent to avoid all forms of public transport if his side continues making seasonal gifts to opposing forwards, said Spurs would do well today to copy the battling spirit which twice bought Barnsley back on level terms against Newcastle last weekend.
"They are a team and they are fighting for each other," said Gross, who described the game as a "critical moment" for his beleaguered club. "We must win, there is no question about that, but we can only get results by bringing in the same fighting spirit that Barnsley have."
Sol Campbell makes a welcome return to help shore up a defence which has conceded 10 goals in the two matches against Chelsea and Coventry that he was forced to miss with a shoulder injury. Steffan Iversen and Jose Domingues are also available, but Raymon Vega (suspended) and David Howells, Chris Armstrong, Dean Austin and John Scales are all out.
Wins for both Barnsley and for Everton at Leicester would leave Tottenham propping up the table. The Merseysiders search for a first Premiership away victory is likely to take place without Danny Williamson who has a hamstring injury.
The midfielder's former club, West Ham, have the chance to amend their own dismal away sequence which is preventing them enjoying closer ties with the teams near the summit, like secondplaced Blackburn Rovers, today's opponents at Ewood Park. Just three points from eight games is a measly return for a side who on their East End patch are nigh on invincible. Blackburn can cut the deficit at the top of the table back to one point again before Manchester United's date with Newcastle tomorrow. Andy Cole returns to St James's Park intending to add to his 15 goals in 19 appearances, but Alex Ferguson has cautioned his men to beware the influence of Keith Gillespie, the make-weight in the £7 million deal that sent Cole to Old Trafford.
Leeds face Bolton having spent the week fighting off the controversy that continued long after the end of their bruising encounter at Chelsea, in which Gary Kelly and Alf-Inge Haaland were sent off.
They have failed to score in their last two games, but need just two today to reach 28 goals for the season and equal their entire Premiership haul in the previous campaign.
