The last team to qualify for a Champions League spot in the Premier League outside the conventional top 4 (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United) was Everton back in ’05. The five year trend is set to be broken once again as Tottenham and Manchester City faceoff this Wednesday for a place in the Premier League elite and a chance to play against some of Europe’s finest teams next year. Manchester City hosted Aston Villa for a thriller at the Eastlands and Tottenham played host to a much weaker Bolton side.

With Shay Given injured Marton Fulop, on loan from Sunderland, filled in for the injured keeper for the Citizen’s most crucial game of the year. City started off the match on the wrong foot as Carew scored a goal 16 minutes into the first half. City continually pressed a tried creating chances but the Villa defense was resilient not giving any room for City to work with. City would finally tie it up on a penalty given up by a sloppy tackle on Adam Johnson by Warnock. Two minutes later Adebayor scored after a counter which started when Carew rattled the crossbar giving all City fans a scare. Aston Villa’s hopes of playing Champions League football next year were all but finished after a great run by Wright-Phillips which was completed by an even better shot by Craig Bellamy. With Aston Villa out of the race Manchester City would look for Bolton to do their dirty work for them as Tottenham, who’ve been having a great run at home recently hosted the Wanderers.

At White Hart Lane the Hotspurs were keen to end their 20 year drought of finishing underneath the top 4. Transfer recently have suggested that Modric and Gareth Bale were leaving at the end of this year. Their performances today indicated to us that they’ll really need to stay if they really want to compete in Champions League football next year. Tottenham started the match the same way they ended it, taking and creating chances against an inferior Bolton side which struggled to take any shots on goal. The Suprs would go up on a cracking strike from Tom Huddlestone, who’s hoping to earn his place on the England squad this summer. Gareth Bale continually impressed today weaving between Bolton defenders creating and taking chances of his own. It’s quite a shock to see how Bolton came out of this match only one goal down as Tottenham controlled the possession and made the most of it by creating chances. Tottenham fan’s were given something to think about as the match came to an end as the keeper Gomez began limping in what appeared to be a groin injury.

With Tottenham and Manchester City set to square off on Wednesday at the Stadium of Light, which team has the upper hand? We’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment and make sure you check out our preview for Wednesday’s game this Tuesday as the Premier League reaches its climax and we brace ourselves for the World Cup. Follow us on twitter and facebook to hear live updates leading up to Wednesday’s game and more!

-Ahmed Ahmed