Scout Scribbles – Townsend Hands Spurs Advantage

Andros Townsend slots home a spot-kick to give Spurs a narrow first-leg lead over Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup semi-final. Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic grab a goal apiece as City sweep aside Hamburg, Marouane Chamakh is on course to turn out for Palace this weekend, whilst Swansea edge closer to snapping up Kyle Naughton from Spurs.

TOWNSEND’S SPOT KICK BLUNTS THE BLADES

Mauricio Pochettino made five changes to his Tottenham starting XI for their Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg clash with Sheffield United last night. Nacer Chadli was absent for personal reasons, meaning that Andros Townsend was handed a chance on the flank, with Harry Kane once again fielded in ‘the hole’ behind Emmanuel Adebayor, who was replaced by Roberto Soldado midway through the second half. After being frustrated for the majority of the match, Spurs finally found the breakthrough, with Townsend giving his side a 1-0 advantage to take into the second leg from the penalty spot.

Post-match, Pochettino was forced to defend his decision to hand Adebayor the captaincy armband for the encounter after the Togo international was booed by some of the home crowd:

“He is one of the three captains. You forget [I named them] at the beginning of the season. I think it is not the moment to explain why. When I took a decision it was seven months ago, I took the decision that Kaboul, Lloris and Adebayor were three captains, seven months ago. It is a long, long time ago that happened. I had no doubts [about making him captain]. I didn’t hear [any bad reaction]. I am focused on the game.”

The Scout Says: Townsend has now registered two goals and an assist in his last five appearances in all competitions, and with Erik Lamela’s calf injury expected to keep him out until mid-February, the England international could be set to profit further over the next few Gameweeks. Indeed, the winger might need to continue that form if Spurs’ future performances continue in the same vein as last night’s, with the north Londoners managing just two shots on target across the 90 minutes against their League One opponents. With both Adebayor and Soldado once again flattering to deceive, and the fans clearly gunning for the former, Kane’s 36.7% ownership will be hopeful that the youngster will be shifted further forward in the coming weeks as he looks to continue the form that has produced six goals and three assists in his last seven league outings.

DZEKO AND JOVETIC ON TARGET IN CITY FRIENDLY

Edin Dzeko and Stefan Jovetic were both handed starts and grabbed a goal apiece as Man City overcame Hamburg 2-0 in a friendly in Abu Dhabi. Manuel Pellegrini fielded a backline of Bacary Sagna, Dedryck Boyata, Eliaquim Mangala and Aleksander Kolarov for the encounter, whilst Sergio Aguero was introduced up front with 25 mins left on the clock as he continues to build up his fitness.

However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the victors, with Frank Lampard forced off after 20 minutes with a hip problem originally sustained in the warm-up, though Pellegrini played down the problem post-match:

“He was injured in the warm up and then we took him off in the game as a precaution.”

The Scout Says: With Aguero back from injury and Wilfried Bony recently snapped up by the Citizens, it would be fair to say that the pressure was on Jovetic and Dzeko to produce yesterday despite the insignificance of the fixture. The two strikers gave their manager a timely reminder of their capabilities and if either manages to produce again in their FA Cup tie with Middlesborough on Saturday, Pellegrini may well have a partner for Aguero ahead of the following weekend’s vital trip to Chelsea. Whilst the Argentine’s starting role looks untouchable so long as he can remain fit, Jovetic and Dzeko’s lingering presence is likely to have an impact on Bony’s pitch time once he returns from the Africa Cup of Nations, and this continuous competition for minutes could well deprive managers of a reliable mid-price forward option in City’s ranks even if Pellegrini does begin to favour a front two set-up once again.

CHAMAKH TIPPED FOR COMEBACK

Reports indicate that Crystal Palace forward Marouane Chamakh is expected to return to action for his side this weekend in their FA Cup clash with Southampton.

The Scout Says: Could Alan Pardew be set for another reshuffle in formation on the back of yesterday’s news? The Eagles boss deployed a 4-3-3 set-up against Spurs in his first league match in charge, then switched to 4-4-2 for last weekend’s trip to Burnley. With his side trailing at half-time, however, Pardew then changed things up again, moving to a 4-1-4-1 formation which in turn sparked a successful comeback. Glenn Murray and new signing Yaya Sanogo have both started one match apiece up front and Chamakh may come into contention as his new manager looks for a consistency of both selection and formation. Certainly, with Palace set on all-out attack mode right now, their budget offensive options appear to be worth considering, though Jason Puncheon and Dwight Gayle’s form and guarantee of starts regardless of formation ensures that they remain the prime assets for the time being.

NAUGHTON MOVE To SWANS NEARS COMPLETION

Reports yesterday claimed that Spurs defender Kyle Naughton could seal a move to Swansea as soon as today, after the right back apparently agreed personal terms and passed a medical with the Welsh side.

The Scout Says: At just 4.3 in the Fantasy Premier League game, Naughton’s signature could present managers with a cut-price option in a Swans rearguard who face potentially prosperous encounters with Sunderland, West Brom and Burnley in their next five. The Welsh outfit have tallied a respectable eight clean sheets thus far this season and, despite shipping 11 in just their last four, could now receive a new wave of attention if Naughton’s move does indeed go through. The 26-year-old  certainly looks set to come straight into the reckoning for a starting berth, with Garry Monk seemingly losing confidence in regular right-back Angel Rangel in recent times – the Spaniard was an unused substitute last time out, with Dwight Tiendalli taking his place in the starting XI against Chelsea.