Thomas Frank could be forgiven for thinking he is stuck between a rock and a hard place with crucial matches for Tottenham arriving at warp speed over the next few weeks before the November international break.
Spurs’ titanic Carabao Cup trek to Newcastle is followed by three home games with Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester United either side of a Champions League match with Copenhagen.
The Spurs manager knows expectations are high as he seeks to emulate his predecessor Ange Postecoglou by winning a trophy so he has to field a strong team at St James’ Park.
However, while Tottenham are sitting pretty in third place in the top flight their home form has been average at best with defeats to Bournemouth and Aston Villa and a draw with bottom club Wolves meaning their sole home win in the league was a long time ago against Burnley on the opening day of the season.
They have sent fans cheering their way down the High Road after a victory against Chelsea just twice in the last eight derbies between the two clubs in North London and a defeat against the Blues would swiftly evaporate the good mood generated by away wins at Leeds United and Everton.
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Those splendid results have established Spurs as the team with the best away record in the Premier League with 13 points from five excursions from N17 and they have scored the most goals on their league travels, hitting the net on 12 occasions, while allowing just three goals.
Frank’s men have also been undefeated on their jolly boys’ outings in Europe, sharing the spoils at both Bodo/Glimt and Monaco but although the Magpies have lost on home soil to Liverpool, Barcelona and Arsenal – all have been keenly competitive combats which could have gone either way and they have since taken maximum points off Nottingham Forest, Benfica and Fulham.
This could come down to which manager makes the most changes with Magpies boss Eddie Howe also in the middle of a tough run as his side must travel to West Ham and Brentford either side of a European test at home to Athletic Bilbao.
The tie could go to penalties after 90 minutes with the draw available at 31/10 with StarSports and Bresbet with both teams to score 3/4 with William Hill and over 2.5 goals a must at the same price with the same firm as it has been the case in six of Newcastle’s last seven matches and six of Tottenham’s last eight games.
Carabao Cup bets
Crystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield at Wembley in August and another draw in their Carabao Cup clash at Anfield is 15/4 with bet365 while a repeat of the 2-2 draw is 14/1 with the same firm.
The Eagles are 10/11 with BetMGM to win with a goal start in their handicap market and the bookies also offer 9/4 for Palace to reach the quarter-finals.
Arsenal are 5/4 with BoyleSports, SpreadEx and Sporting Index to lead Brighton HT/FT, Manchester City are 7/10 with BoyleSports and Betway to do the same at Swansea and Chelsea are 7/10 with Coral and Betfred to win outright at Wolves.
Breeders Cup odds
Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk can get her nose in front for Aiden O’Brien in the Breeders Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday at 11/10 with Ladbrokes and Coral while True Love can prevail for the Irish trainer in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at 10/3 with William Hill, StarSports and Bresbet on Friday.
Notable Speech can bask in the California sun on Saturday by winning the Breeders Cup Mile at 9/4 with William Hill and Journalism can write his own headlines by winning the Breeders Cup Classic at 12/1 with the same firm.
