Spurs v Bolton - Head-to-Head

Chris Perry

Gudni Bergsson

One of Tottenham's unsung heroes of the past comes back to White Hart Lane on Monday night, where he will pit his talents against a current underrated Spurs star.

Gudni Bergsson played for Tottenham Hotspur in the late 1980s and early 1990s in a particularly turbulent time for the club. He was part of the Terry Venables era and Ossie Ardiles' famous five team where he was occasionally one of the "less-well-known six" before being sold to Bolton Wanderers in 1995. Since then, the Icelander has given solid service to the Trotters back-line well beyond what could have been expected.

Now 36, he is once more trying his hand at top-flight football and doing so quite successfully in Sam Allardyce's side's excellent start to life in the Premiership.

Chris Perry has also seen some turbulent times in N17. He was signed by George Graham, but once ENIC and Glenn Hoddle took over, his robust approach to defending was considered by many to earmark him for a swift exit.

The signings of Goran Bunjevcevic and Dean Richards, plus the development of Gary Doherty and Ledley King would certainly suggest that Perry isn't necessarily first choice with the manager, but recent performances have been impressive and the former Wimbledon stopper has played the last 10 consecutive Premiership matches.

In that time Spurs have moved up to within touching distance of the leaders, with some traditional Spurs passing displays, mixed with some dogged defending.

Bergsson has certainly been the busier of the two, clearing almost 150 balls from danger, while Perry has hoofed just shy of the century so far. But Perry has shown that he isn't just a stopper, but also a good reader of the game - only four players have made more interceptions.

Perry has also showed the acumen necessary to fit in with the mythical Spurs "passing game", by completing 74% of his passes - a significantly better ratio than his opposite number on Monday night. But Bergsson is the real goal threat of the two. The Icelandic defender has already scored this season and is a potent aerial weapon at set-pieces, while Perry has gone more than a year since he last netted.

The odds on a Bergsson goal with surreySPORTS are 11/1 which is the same price for a Perry strike. And with Spurs fine home form - just two defeats versus Man Utd and Chelsea - and Bolton's brilliant away form - just one defeat despite playing at Old Trafford, Elland Road and Highbury already - the odds on the players doing their proper job of defending and keeping clean sheets are far better than those for finding the net.

Rob Bateman