Argentina three to have Spurs fans dreaming against West Brom
Published:Argentina centre-half Federico Fazio is expected to make his first Premier League appearance, against West Brom, for a Spurs side who’ve conceded five goals in their last two top-flight fixtures and are 13/10 to keep their third White Hart Lane clean sheet in all competitions this term.
At the other end of the pitch, Fazio’s compatriot Erik Lamela – who toiled manfully without scoring in the Lilywhites’ last league match at Sunderland – is 15/2 to finally open his account in the division with the first goal of the match.
If the pair start it will be the first time since the heady days of the early 1980s, when Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa played huge roles on the way to successive Spurs FA Cup final wins, that two Albiceleste internationals will line up for the north Londoners in the same fixture.
With former Argentina defender Mauricio Pochettino presiding over last season’s sixth-placed Premier League side, who are beginning to look a more settled and dynamic outfit than when either Andre Villas-Boas or Tim Sherwood were in charge, the omens look bad for Alan Irvine’s rock-bottom Baggies.
The Hawthorns outfit have claimed just two points, in their first two fixtures, so far this term and last scored in their opening-day 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland – 286 minutes ago.
After Newcastle boss Alan Pardew bought himself some time with a 2-2 come-from-behind draw against Hull at St James’ Park, Irvine looks the likeliest next Premier League manager to leave his post, with much of the football world bewildered as to why he was ever given the job.
Pochettino could also hand a Premier League debut to former France Under-21 defensive-midfielder Benjamin Stambouli, who impressed in his new side’s 0-0 draw at Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League.
It all points to a third top-flight loss in a row without scoring for Irvine’s crowd, with the hosts priced up at 8/5 for a win to nil in front of the faithful.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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