So Spurs on a run of three wins in three and the Jester correct on all results, but for the goal difference. Can I go four in four at West Ham?

Tottenham have a reputation for good football. An historical one with brief flashes of that age-old reputation down the years but with little fresh air (apart from David Ginola) since the 80s. Renewed hopes of quality football have been dashed time and again.

All were confused by the new squad's lack of distinction this season till now and I don't think any of us realised how much Martin Jol had built his tactics around Michael Carrick, a holding player, something we no longer have. With him gone and Jermaine Jenas injured the midfield lost impetus and all fans looked on in derision with that sinking "oh no, not again!" feeling.

The return of Jenas hailed a change. This is a player with positive energy dripping from every pore and fans that debate his quality whatever their reasons should not detract from the psychological effect he has on the midfield.

It is games like this one, this weekend, where Tottenham just love to drop points. A good run, an opponent reeling and depressed, a game that looks wrapped up. That's when the guard is so often dropped and the games like the one against Sheffield United occur.

I bet against that this weekend though. These are players with injured pride who were expecting to be in a comfortable sixth place, possibly giving the top four a scare or two, yet have spent large parts of the season at the flushing end of the table. Tails are up, bees are in bonnets and other such idioms.

I do think it will be a slim victory, though, and I back West Ham to put up a good fight - far better than their derisory performance against Charlton. Oddly, with West Ham almost certain to go down a lot of the pressure comes off the players. They no longer need to look at the table in worry - just to play football. And their team has plenty of talent.

In conclusion, I reckon Spurs for a one-goal victory away from home and (surprisingly) a clean sheet. If the midfield works well it will shield a defence that, where it can be breeched, gets more confident and used to each other with every game.

In a word of support: I do hope that West Ham do not fire Alan Curbishley if relegated. He is a man that takes a little while to settle but I back him to bring them straight back up and put them in a regular top 10 spot within a few years.

Post Script (if you are interested). This jester (aka "The Guru") is having unprecedented skill (luck) in prediction of Premiership games and got a 63% average last weekend. This is making him irritatingly cocky and he (I) could do with being knocked off my perch. It is well known that only a King was allowed to beat his jester- no one else could touch him. So can you be King, or you can be taken for a fool? Have a go. Include scorelines (as a tie-breaker) and in order, please, to save me time. I will write a piece before, with our predictions, and after, with the results.

Liverpool - Man Utd
Arsenal - Reading
Fulham - Aston Villa
Man City - Wigan
Newcastle - Middlesbrough
Sheff Utd - Everton
Watford - Charlton
Portsmouth - Chelsea
Bolton - Blackburn
West Ham - Tottenham

I will go up against the first two emails, with all results entered, through the gate to: challenge@midnightjester.co.za

midnightjester
spurs.wordpress.com