We’re just over 24 hours away from 2018 coming to an end and 2019 beginning, and what a year it has been. From the World Cup to all of the fantastic domestic football we’ve seen, it’s been quite the twelve months. The Premier League, in particular, has been full of some great moments mixed in with some controversy and high level football – which is just the way we like it. The PL is known for being one of the top divisions in Europe for a reason, and as we look ahead to next year, it’s safe to say that we can see that trend continuing.

It’ll continue on the very first day of the year, too, with some Premier League action for us to feast our eyes upon. One game that we’re particularly looking forward to is Cardiff City vs Tottenham Hotspur, mainly because of the contrast between the two sides. One is attempting to avoid relegation whereas the other, if they get their act together, could realistically make a push for the title within the next few years. As we all know, though, that kind of form goes flying out of the window, and it all comes down to what happens on the day.

Under the guidance of Neil Warnock it feels like the Bluebirds are starting to find their feet in the top flight, and that’s not something a lot of fans were anticipating. They were considered to be certainties to drop into the Championship before a ball had even been kicked this season, and now, they’ve got a really good chance of surviving. It’s not going to be easy and they’re going to need to make some changes in January, but the blueprint is there and that’s all you can really ask for as we approach the second half of the campaign.

Tottenham, on the other hand, face the same issue that they have done for years now: pressure. They’re no longer considered to be the outsiders, with many considering them to possess one of the best squads in the division. Of course, they’re often mocked for dropping the ball when it looks like they should be contending for the title, and you could argue they’re displaying the same usual traits. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not they can force their way into the conversation once again, but either way, the real story over the next few months will be the future of Mauricio Pochettino.

Cardiff’s last six game stretch may not read like a series of results from world beaters or anything like that, but that isn’t what they’re supposed to be. They kicked things off with a 3-1 loss to West Ham United before edging out a narrow 1-0 win over Southampton, which is the kind of performance we’ve come to expect from them. Back to back losses against Watford and Manchester United hurt their confidence, but they’ve bounced back with a two game unbeaten run in the form of a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace and a 1-0 win over Leicester City.

Tottenham’s last six game run began with a 1-1 draw against Barcelona, which was clearly all the confidence they needed to go on a short winning streak. They just about managed to overcome Burnley before knocking bitter rivals Arsenal out of the League Cup, which was always going to be a big result for them. They then battered local rivals Everton 6-2 which was the definition of impressive, before dismantling Bournemouth 5-0. Unfortunately, the calls of being ‘bottle jobs’ came flooding in once again last night as they lost 3-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the kind of result that is enough to make you question their credentials.

Tottenham have the advantage when it comes to the overall head to head standings between these two teams, leading 27-11 with 12 draws. Their first meeting came way back in 1921 and while Cardiff have never really been on the same level as Spurs, they’ve certainly given them a few things to think about over the years. In their last meeting back in October, Tottenham managed to edge out a 1-0 win – and while both teams have changed since that point, it’s worth remembering that Cardiff managed to keep the score down in a manner that very few sides in their position have been able to do.

Kenneth Zohore is expected to be the big absence for the Bluebirds, with his thigh injury still causing him some problems. Callum Paterson made his return to the starting XI for Warnock against Leicester, with the hope being that he can continue to feature from this point onwards. Gunnarsson is expected to lead from the middle of the park for the home side, and while their side isn’t exactly full of lots of quality, they’ve got a lot of heart and that can certainly go a long way in the Premier League.

Tottenham still have injury concerns to deal with, as their fans continue to await the January transfer window where big changes are expected to be made. Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama are all out with Vincent Janssen also still being on the shelf. Aurier and Vertonghen are on the verge of returning to full fitness, but the Cardiff game will likely come too soon for them to feature. Trippier is likely set to start once again, although many Spurs fans are starting to call for him to be dropped in the wake of a series of poor performances over the last few months.

Cardiff vs Tottenham Betting Prediction

In front of their home faithful, it legitimately feels like Cardiff City have a chance at springing the upset. The goal should be to keep it as close as possible heading into the final half hour or so, which is when Spurs tend to buckle. We can see the home side taking their time with a measured approach, which is sure to frustrate Tottenham. The visitors will still be able to play at their own tempo but following the poor result against Wolves, we think their nerves will ensure the game remains goalless heading into half time.

At that point we think Tottenham will start to kick it up a notch, and we actually think they’ll score within the first few minutes of the restart. From that point on they’ll sit back on their lead and invite the pressure from Cardiff, who you just know will give it everything they’ve got in search of an equaliser. We don’t think they’re going to be able to unlock the Spurs backline, but we do think they’re going to earn their respect as their quest for survival in the Premier League continues.

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