EPL: Man City vs Spurs (18.12.2007)

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uande Ramos has challenged Tottenham to build on their first domestic away win of the season and end Manchester City's perfect home record.

Spurs travel to the City of Manchester stadium for a Carling Cup quarter-final having finally claimed three Barclays Premier League away points at Portsmouth.

City have won all 10 home matches this season under former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson but they lost at White Hart Lane recently, as Spurs won the first of two straight league games for the first time this season.

Despite already enjoying success over City, Ramos is in no doubt of the task at hand.

He said: ``City's home record is very impressive and it will be difficult to get any reward there, but if we play as well as we can, we can do it. It is a competition we are happy to be in and a competition we want to win.

``I don't think the match against City at our stadium will have any bearing on the game up there but I believe my players are getting to know what is expected of them. I've been very pleased with the last few games.''

Tottenham reached the Carling Cup semi-finals last season only to be defeated over two legs by rivals Arsenal.

Their league form ensured they did not miss out on a UEFA Cup place as they finished fifth in the table.

But their hopes of a third consecutive continental campaign could rest on a Wembley triumph.

Still in the wrong half of the table nearly halfway through the season, midfielder Jermaine Jenas nevertheless believes Spurs must aim for Europe again.

He said: ``We are a club that belongs in Europe and the manager belongs to European success, too. He's won the last two UEFA Cup's with Sevilla.

``He's changed us, there's no doubt about that. We seem more compact, a lot stronger and there are fewer gaps opening up in defence.

Ramos has lost just one of his 10 games in charge of Spurs. His first game at the helm was October's Carling Cup fourth round win over Blackpool. He is sure to field a strong side tomorrow.

But he may still be without centre-back Michael Dawson, who had to pull out of the Portsmouth match after suffering migraine attacks and being admitted to hospital for temporary checks.

Another headache - especially with Robbie Keane still out suspended - is the dilemma of who fills Tottenham's front line and Ramos seems no nearer solving it.

Jermain Defoe looked much more of a threat than £17million signing Darren Bent when he replaced him against Pompey but the former West Ham forward has still not started for Ramos.

Ramos would only say: ``We have four strikers who are all at a very high level and we must try to use them all as much as we can.''

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will get the chance of his young life to stake a claim for a permanent place in the team.

Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has recalled the 20-year-old prospect for the match.

Andreas Isaksson drops out after four matches, and there is more at stake for both men than a place in the semis, because Eriksson will decide after the game who will be his number one choice for the rest of the campaign.

It is a straight fight between the young Englishman, formerly of Shrewsbury, and the Sweden international - with Kasper Schmeichel currently out on loan to Cardiff.

Eriksson said: ``It is very close between them, although we have planned for a long time to play Hart in this game.

``They have been prepared for it and will no doubt be waiting on Wednesday to hear what I have to say. I have been pleased with the attitude of all three goalkeepers.

``They have been fantastic, very professional and are working extremely hard. It is difficult choosing a number one but I have to do it.''

``I wanted to give Andreas Isaksson a run because it is important not to judge people without giving them a chance.

``It is very difficult for a goalkeeper if they are playing one match in, one match out. It is not a good solution.''

Italian striker Rolando Bianchi should retain his place in the starting line-up, after scoring his second goal in two games in the 4-2 victory against Bolton .

Eriksson said: ``It will be hard to put him back on the bench. He will start.''

Elano is also set for a run-out after a three-match absence with a hamstring injury. Eriksson decided not to risk the Brazil midfielder against Bolton.

Eriksson said: ``He wants to play every game. It is no secret he has been very important to us and behind a lot of our goals.''

source: ESPNsoccernet - Carling Cup - Man City v Tottenham Preview