Wednesday night is a huge night for Tottenham Hotspur football club in more ways than one. The main reason is that they finally move into their new home, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a move that has been coming for a long time. Their temporary home of Wembley has been pretty good to them it has to be said, but they will be hoping the state of the art facilities and getting their own fans back home will be able to catapult them forward.

The move is expected to bring a lift to the side, and to be honest it has come at exactly the right moment for them. Spurs are in desperate need of a lift right now, they are without a win in their last five games and in more trouble than they have been at any other point this season. There are seven games to go, and Tottenham are in trouble.

Just a few weeks ago, this club was seen as a potentially title dark horse by some, and while I didn’t fully agree with that myself, I did expect them to finish a comfortable 3rd in the league, well ahead of those behind them but too far back from the top two, who are too good for them. However, things have taken a drastic turn for the worse, and there is a real danger that Tottenham will miss the top four all together unless they can find a way to improve on their recent form.

Crystal Palace will head into this game feeling like they can take advantage of Spurs and get something here, and you can’t blame them for that. They are in 13th position and after three wins from their last five games, unless something bad happens they are well clear of the relegation zone and safe for another season. They have played well recently and although it is unlikely they will be able to pick up enough points to move too much further up the league, they will still want a good end to the season as it will give them something to build on over the summer.

There are two ways this game could go. The first is that this is the perfect time to play Tottenham, because they are struggling to pick points up right now, and they are there for the taking. The second is that Tottenham will win this game with ease, because the occasion of moving into their new home will bring out the best in their players, and they will put on a show for their fans. What will it be? My money is on the latter, I think Tottenham will overcome their recent form troubles to put on a real show for their fans here, in the first game at their new stadium.

What Next for Tottenham?

The first thing Spurs need to do is qualify for the top four. This is simply something they cannot throw away at this stage, after being well ahead of the chasing pack for so long this season. They were unlucky against Liverpool at the weekend I thought, and on another day not only would they have defended properly and not lost the game, but they would have actually gone on to win it, such was their dominance especially in the second half.

That was by no means Spurs at their best, but it was better than what we have seen in recent weeks. The sign of a top team though is one that plays poorly and still finds a way to win, much in the way that Liverpool did to Tottenham themselves on Sunday. That is what Spurs have to aspire to, because things will be tough from time to time like they are now, and they have to find a way to battle through and turn the tables by picking up a win.

I think they are beginning to struggle because they are tired, and that all stems back to the fact that the club decided to not sign anyone during the January transfer window, as well as last summer in the summer transfer window. It is well over 12 months since we last saw some fresh blood get added to this Tottenham team, and the fact is right now that you can tell that is the case. They have to invest this summer if they want to maintain their position in the top four, never mind if they want to challenge higher up and go against the top two.

Tottenham vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips

A big occasion for more than one reason, and one that the Tottenham players will be desperate to enjoy. A few weeks ago they would have been counting down the days to this night, and looking forward to celebrating what has been a good season with their fans in their new home. However, things have really changed and that has added a completely new dimension to this game.

Tottenham are under pressure to find a win right now, and with this occasion adding even more pressure and importance to the result, this won’t be an easy night. However, when you compare the two teams here, it is clear to see that Tottenham are the better side. They are having a rough patch at the moment yes, but for large parts of the second half on Sunday they outplayed the team who currently sit top of the Premier League. A repeat of that performance on Sunday would be more than enough to beat Crystal Palace in this one.

I’m going to back Spurs to finally pick up a win here, and I think they will do it in good style so I am going to back them on the -1 handicap line. What they need is an early goal, something to announce themselves at their new ground, and something to give the fans an early cheer inside it. With an early goal, I would fancy them to go on and get a few more.

That is exactly what I am hoping with my bet, and on Wednesday night the pick from me is Tottenham on the -1 handicap line, where I am hoping they can beat Crystal Palace by two goals or more.

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