PATIENTS on the children's wards at Morriston Hospital had their stay sweetened by a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny.

The visit was organised by BAM construction, which is currently building the new £60 million extension to the hospital. It wanted to do something special for the younger patients at the hospital, so it sent the BAM bunny to hand out chocolate eggs. Eleven-year-old Ammie Jones, from Glynneath, said: "It was a really nice surprise to see the Easter Bunny. He helped cheer me up. It was great to have something different to enjoy."

Oakwood children's ward manager Linda Wright added: "Thank you to BAM for organising the visit. It was a really lovely gesture."

PATIENTS in the Neuro Rehabilitation Unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital have raised £900 for Comic Relief and the unit by holding an Apprentice-style event as part of their rehabilitation.

The patients came up with the idea of holding a stationary 60-mile bike ride in the hospital entrance, along with a cake sale and face painting.

The patients all took on different roles in the project and had to draw upon their life skills to organise the event. The roles included a marketing manager, sales manager, treasurer, cake makers, cash collectors, face painter and plenty of willing cyclists.

Lisa Chess, lead speech and language therapist, explained: "Once the ideas were agreed the group had a lot of organising to do. They had to get permission from Comic Relief and hospital management, arrange marketing, advertising, sponsorship, cake making and produce a running order of cyclists.''

ABMU Health Board is running a campaign to improve patient care and safety by encouraging staff to stop and think before fitting a patient with a catheter or cannula.

Not all patients need a cannula (a device in the hand or arm to give medication or fluids) or urinary catheter. But sometimes they are inserted, or left in when no longer required, just in case.

Cannulas and urinary catheters can be a source of infection.

Assistant director of nursing Nicola Williams said: "The event is the board's way of celebrating our commitment to the campaign. Research shows that 7.3 per cent of patients with a cannula develop an infection. This is because it provides a direct entry route into the patient's blood stream for bacteria. Also, urinary tract infections are the third most common healthcare associated infection in Wales, and are often associated with urinary catheters.

"We have had a comprehensive training programme in place for this campaign. It makes staff aware of when it is appropriate to use a cannula or catheter and teaches them the correct way of putting these devices in and looking after them."

SWANSEA City and Wales captain Ashley Williams has given his support to an event run by Street Football Wales (www.streetfootballwales.org) to help Welsh youngsters shoot for the stars. The event aims to raise awareness to help tackle social exclusion for Welsh young people. Ashley is a supporter and patron of Street Football Wales.

The event was organised and compared by Welsh comedian and Beat the Gong winner Benjamin Jenkins.

Raffle prizes included 10 driving lessons, a bike and signed sporting memorabilia from boxing coach Enzo Calzaghe and a Welsh shirt signed by the whole squad, including Ashley.

PETER Rees from Loughor stepped into his best mate's cycling shoes and raised £1,105 for the Burns Unit at Morriston Hospital.

The charity bike ride came about after Peter's best friend Duncan Davies from Gowerton, suffered an accident in work and was rushed to the Burns Unit at Morriston Hospital. He had 66 per cent burns to his body and was critically ill.

During a hospital visit, Duncan spoke to Peter about the Gower Bike Ride and the fact he wouldn't be able to take part this year, Peter could see that Duncan was upset.

It was on the short journey home from the hospital that Peter decided to take up the bike challenge, not thinking of the consequences.

This started a huge challenge for Peter who had not ridden a bike since he was young lad.

Peter said: "Seeing my big mate lying in the hospital bed critically ill was heartbreaking.

"I really wanted to do something positive, raise his spirits and money for the burns unit at the hospital. It was a crazy idea, but I was determined to raise some money.

"So, I gave up smoking, bought a bike and started training. With only seven weeks to the race I really had to work hard."

Duncan's wife Stella Davies added: "Duncan was very ill, I just took one day at a time. But with the clinical expertise, support and care from the doctors and nurses at the burns unit Duncan has made an excellent recovery.

"I want to thank everyone who works with Peter and Duncan and donated, also to Peter for taking part in the bike ride."

WAUNARLWYDD Primary School remembered one of their beloved former pupils this week.

Pupils at the school have been raising money for the Amy and Friends charity which offers support and advice to families and sufferers of Cockayne Syndrome.

Little Carly Russell-Curtis tragically passed away two years ago after suffering from the rare genetic disease and her former classmates have been determined to honour her memory ever since.

Headteacher Ruth Davies said: "We had a target to raise £1,500 but thanks to our very generous community we have raised £4,700 and are on our way to £5,000.

"We had a raffle and a talent show, and Carly's parents came along with her aunt and older sister.

"She was a really really lovely girl."

SWANSEA City are weighing up a summer bid for Sevilla defender Alberto Botia.

Reports emerged in Spain yesterday suggesting Swansea had tabled a six million euro offer for the 24-year-old centre-back during the January transfer window.

And though those stories have been rebuffed by Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, Botia is on boss Michael Laudrup's radar.

The 24-year-old, who has been part of Spain's senior squad but is yet to be capped, only joined Sevilla from Sporting Gijon last summer.

But it seems Swansea may look to bring him to the Premier League when this campaign draws to a close.

"He is a player we are aware of, but there has been no offer," Jenkins said.

"We were not looking for a centre-half in January, but it could be different in the summer."

Botia, who was part of the Spanish squad at last summer's Olympics, came through the ranks at Barcelona.

He made one senior appearance for the Catalan giants before switching to Sporting Gijon in 2009 and establishing himself as a La Liga player.

Botia has suggested he had the chance to join Swansea in the last transfer window.

"My agent told me of the offer, but it did not go further," he said.

"I have a contract and I belong to Sevilla, and I want to stay here. That's what I said.

"I would like to continue at Sevilla next season, but I do not know yet if that's what the club wants."

Though Botia is only in his debut season at Sevilla, there is uncertainty about where he will be come the start of the next campaign.

There have been stories in Germany claiming he is on the radar of Bayern Munich, but Laudrup could tempt him to Wales having had plenty of success in the Spanish market already.

Swansea defender Ben Davies, meanwhile, is not overawed by the prospect of playing against Wales team-mate Gareth Bale on Saturday.

Davies will line up against Bale , one of the Premier League's stars of the season, when Swansea host Tottenham.

And he said: "I won't be fazed. It is something I am looking forward to and I want to test myself against the best.

"I'm not sure how you stop Gareth Bale. You just play your normal game and see what happens.

"He is a top player. Everybody sees that so it is going to be a big test for us. We will do our best to keep him quiet.

"It is going to be a challenge, but we are looking forward to it.

"We could do with getting something out of the game. That is something we will work hard to do."

Bale's sensational form this season has helped fire Spurs firmly into contention for Champions League qualification.

The former Southampton youngster has been mentioned in the same breath as football's current big two, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Someone of Gareth's quality could be playing in World Cups quite easily," added Davies.

"He has shown his class at Tottenham. He is playing with excellent players and making them look to him."

Davies is back with Swansea after Wales surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose late on against Croatia.

He and Wales colleague Ashley Williams were not the only Swansea players on international duty on Tuesday.

Jonathan de Guzman played 73 minutes in Holland's win over Romania, while Ki Sung-Yueng was part of the South Korean side who beat Qatar.

Itay Shechter, meantime, played 86 minutes of Israel's victory in Northern Ireland.

gareth vincent

AN AMMANFORD family were taken to hospital with mild carbon monoxide poisoning.

The incident in Betws on the evening of Monday, March 25, has sparked Mid and West Wales Fire Service to call on people to be check their appliances.

Firefighters from Ammanford were called to the property after the carbon monoxide detector alarm was activated.

Two adults, two children under four and a six month old baby were taken to hospital by ambulance, where it was later confirmed that all members of the family were showing mild symptoms of CO poisoning.

The property's gas boiler was isolated as a precaution and the property fully ventilated.

Station manager Mark Davies who attended the incident said, "This incident raises awareness of the very real dangers of carbon monoxide.

Fortunately, this family had a carbon monoxide alarm which activated in time to prevent them from sustaining more serious symptoms.

"I cannot emphasis enough the importance of installing a carbon monoxide detector and ensuring you get your appliances checked and serviced regularly."

Crew manager Jason Cadman, who visited the family in hospital the next day added, "The combi boiler that was responsible for this incident was less than 3 years old. It is very important not to become complacent even with new boilers, as this incident shows they can still pose a danger".

The boiler has since been condemned and the family are well again.

SWANSEA insist they will not alter their open running style when they welcome play-off contenders Llanelli to St Helen's tomorrow (2.30pm).

The Whites were left to rue a multitude of missed chances when they were knocked out of the Swalec Cup quarter-finals by Aberavon last weekend, ending their only remaining hope of silverware this season.

By their own admission, Swansea left themselves exposed against the Wizards, and tomorrow afternoon they will face a Llanelli side who are the third highest try-scorers in the Principality Premiership.

The Parc y Scarlets side are currently fourth in the table and closing in on a place in the end-of-season play-offs, whereas Swansea have been cut adrift at the bottom with only two wins to their name so far.

But despite the disparity in their league standings, Swansea are determined to stick to their attacking principles.

"We lost last weekend but that won't mean we change our approach," said team manager Ian Hopkins.

"It will be more of the same from us against Llanelli.

"When you look at the amount of chances we created against Aberavon, we certainly had enough to win the game.

"It was disappointing to lose the game and, considering all the chances we wasted, it was a missed opportunity.

"We tried to spread the ball and play a wide game, but Aberavon's pack helped them control the game for periods.

"If we do not take our chances, we only have ourselves to blame.

"Our games against Llanelli are always open affairs, with both sides looking to throw the ball around.

"Llanelli are a good side who are a threat out wide, but we also like to play that way so it should be an entertaining game."

Llanelli, meanwhile, will be looking to maintain their bid for a league and cup double as they warm up for their British & Irish Cup quarter-final against Bedford with a trip to St Helen's.

The Parc y Scarlets side recovered from a 23-16 defeat by Pontypridd with a bonus-point 45-20 victory over Cardiff last Sunday to get their league title challenge back on track.

"We lost our momentum a few weeks ago, but we seem to be building it back up again now," said their head of rugby Anthony Buchanan.

"It's important that we carry on against Swansea where we left off against Cardiff. We needed that win, and we needed the bonus point as well. There were signs of us getting back on track.

"If we are going to compete for a Premiership play-off place and do well against Bedford, we have to keep that momentum going."

Swansea have endured a difficult season but, following the Whites' victory away at Bridgend in their latest league fixture, Buchanan expects a robust examination at St Helen's.

"We are very wary of them," he said. "We have to be on top of our game. There were times where we let Cardiff back into the game last weekend, and it's important we don't do that on Saturday.

"Swansea have had a tough season, but we cannot afford to be anything other than on top of our game."

Swansea: N. J. Thomas; Richard Williams, A. Jenkins, D. Watts (capt), Rhys Williams; C. Clement, J. Cole; N. Smith, P. John, I. Williams, B. Fox, J. Barley, R. Dudley-Jones, D. Baker, J. Bija. Reps: S. Otten, A. Mason, N. Thomas, S. Kiley, M. Davies, J. Preddy, B. Roberts, J. Thomas.

Llanelli: D. Ford; K. Phillips, N. Reynolds, J. Lewis, K. Evans; J. Williams, G. Davies; R. Thomas, K. Myhill, A. Hopkins, A. Powell (capt), L. Rawlings, D. Eager, E. Price, D. Thomas. Reps: J. Kaijaks, C. Hawkins, C. Cross, N. White, S. Leach, J. James, C. Keenan, D. Jones.

TACKLING youth offending, promoting restorative justice and putting victims as the heart of the criminal justice system are among the priorities set out in the South Wales Police commissioner's new policing plan.

Alun Michael has also said he wants to see a "strong, swift response to antisocial behaviour" and wants to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls.

The plan lays out the 15 areas Mr Michael wants the force to concentrate on during his term of office, which runs until 2016.

The commissioner said: "In preparing this plan, I have listened to the views and priorities of communities, victims of crime, South Wales Police, community safety and criminal justice partners.

"I believe that the final plan provides a clear direction for myself and my team, along with the Chief Constable, Peter Vaughan, and South Wales Police, and other partners.

"On election I made pledges to be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime and encourage a partnership approach to crime reduction. This plan highlights and builds upon these commitments."

Commissioners were first elected in Wales and England in November last year to replace the old police authorities, and are required by law to produce a policing plan.

Technically the plan runs for the length of a commissioner's term, plus one year — in this case to 2017 — but it can be revised or changed at any time.

Mr Michael said he would soon begin consulting on his second plan, and was keen to hear the views of a wide range of people.

MICHAEL Laudrup has fingers crossed that Tottenham will be struck down by a "Fifa virus" when they face Swansea City at the Liberty tomorrow.

No fewer than 14 Tottenham players who could be involved this weekend have just returned from stints with their various national teams.

And Laudrup, who lost a relatively meagre six senior players during the international break, hopes Andre Villas-Boas's men will struggle to focus on the task in SA1.

"In Spain they call it the Fifa virus — everybody goes away during the international break and the big teams always suffer," said the Swansea manager.

"We have had some players away but only six, which is not that many compared to some of the big clubs, and I think it's worse for Tottenham.

"I really hope it is a problem for them — that would be nice for us.

"Players are away and they only come back on Thursday or Friday, then straightaway they have to travel to an away game.

"There is the physical side of flying and playing games — sometimes you come back with jet lag, you don't sleep well and then you have to get on the bus again.

"And there is also the mental side.

"You have been away for important games with your country, in this case trying to get to the World Cup in Brazil, and then you have only 24 or 48 hours to prepare for a Premier League game.

"That's not easy. Hopefully that might help us because Tottenham are a very strong side.

"Manchester United are going to win the league, but Tottenham are the team who have impressed me most in the games we have played this season."

Spurs head to Wales in need of a result having lost their last two league games.

Villas-Boas's men are now only four points ahead of Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification and the Gunners have a game in hand.

Swansea are under much less pressure by comparison, although Laudrup is keen for a response after defeats by West Brom and Arsenal.

"We have to go out and try to put them under pressure," he added.

"We play at home and we want to get a result. We know it will be difficult because they have so much quality, but we have to think about the ball as much as we can."

Laudrup looks set to recall Chico Flores tomorrow with the centre-back set to be fit after almost seven weeks out with an ankle injury.

Wayne Routledge could also return to the side, while Swansea will check on the fitness of Ki Sung-Yueng after his trip to South Korea.

LLANELLI host Newtown tomorrow (2.30) with manager Bob Jeffrey warning that the club is close to going under.

The Reds staved off another winding-up petition at the High Court on Monday after they were given a 28-day stay of execution over an unpaid tax bill.

But Jeffrey believes the club, who have been blighted by financial problems all season, may already be doomed.

The former youth guru, who took over first-team duties from Andy Legg in November, revealed he has not been paid since late August.

None of the players who arrived in January has received any money, while the club have other debts.

Jeffrey believes the problems are terminal, and that Newtown's visit could be the Reds' penultimate ever fixture on home soil.

"On the playing front, things are going really well," he said.

"Even though the players I brought in have not been paid a penny since they signed for the club, they won again on Saturday.

"I haven't been paid since the end of August as either academy director or manager.

"I've tried to keep things out of the media but there's no point now.

"We've got 28 days left and if anyone cares about Llanelli Football Club, come and support us for our last two home games."

Llanelli won at Afan Lido on Saturday a week after beating Aberystwyth 4-3 at Stebo.

But it is off the field that their major problems have come this season.

"The players have been magnificent," said the Reds boss.

"They have kept performing in difficult circumstances and the last two results have been fantastic."

Those two victories have seen the Reds climb to their current position of eighth in the Play-off Conference, sixth points ahead of second-from- bottom Newtown.

Llanelli are unlikely to be granted a domestic licence to compete in the Welsh Premier League given their current predicament.

And Jeffrey believes the only way forward is to dissolve the club and then re-form it.

But it is unclear where the new team would join the Welsh pyramid, with the Welsh Premier League, Welsh Football League and FAW all involved in deciding.

"I would hope that our stadium, our tradition and the fact we have represented Wales with distinction in Europe would count for us, but I don't know," added Jeffrey.

"Even if we get put in the third division of the Welsh League, it's a very long way back."

IAN Evans insists the Ospreys will not flinch at the sight of the wrecking machine the Blues are set to have at the heart of their pack for the date at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow (5.15pm).

Filo Paulo made his mark playing for Samoa against Wales in November when a dangerous ruck clear-out left Dan Biggar bleeding and nursing a damaged shoulder.

The big man also put in one of several big hits the islanders landed on Richard Hibbard.

At 6ft 6in and 19st 2lb, the former Auckland Blues lock is a fearsome prospect, but Evans insists the Ospreys are not daunted by the prospect of coming up against him.

Asked what they knew of Paulo, Evans said: "That he left five about five stitches in Dan Biggar's head and he caught Richard Hibbard with a heavy hit as well.

"He's obviously a very physical guy. We watched him against Treviso last week. He's bolstered the Blues' pack a bit.

"Are we daunted about facing him? Not really, no. Our pack has stood firm this season, so we'll relish that kind of confrontation.

"We will respect not just him but the whole Blues team. From our pack's point of view, we've been working together well this term. I don't think we'll be daunted.

"We'll be pretty confident we can get the upper hand there, whether against him or anyone else."

Chasing a Pro12 play-off place, the Ospreys have to do the business in the derby battle against the Blues.

Assistant coach Gruff Rees has said they have no margin for error, with the Scarlets breathing down their collar for the fourth place on offer, and Evans agrees.

"We need to keep the good results coming at this stage of the season," said Evans.

"We were quite happy with the way we played against the Dragons last week, but we still feel we can improve. There could be no better time to do that than tomorrow, against a fellow Welsh region at the Millennium Stadium in front of a crowd of around 40,000. It's a big game."

MARK ORDERS

BOSSES at Bristol Airport have raised concerns over the Welsh Government's purchase of Cardiff Airport.

First Minister Carwyn Jones confirmed the airport had passed into public ownership through a £52 million deal on Wednesday.

Business leaders welcomed the news but Robert Sinclair, chief executive officer at Bristol Airport, claims Government ownership of the airport could damage Bristol Airport's existing services.

He said: "The nationalisation of Cardiff Airport heightens our concern over the fairness of the Silk Commission's recommendation to devolve Air Passenger Duty (APD) for direct long haul flights from Wales and the Welsh Government's call for this tax to be scrapped.

"If it comes into force, this proposal would give the Welsh Government the power to set the tax regime for a business of which it is the sole owner and beneficiary.

"No net benefit to passengers on either side of the Severn Bridge would result, but devolution of APD would simply redistribute passengers, distort a competitive market and damage Bristol Airport's existing services to major European hubs, as well as seriously undermining the case for future links with the US and Middle East."

Graham Morgan, director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said the Welsh business community needed an effective international airport for economic growth.

He added: "We need to see an effective plan developed that will enable a smooth transition of ownership and ensure that the commercial operator appointed has significant international experience to bring new initiatives to the airport model."

Janet Jones, of the Feder- ation of Small Businesses in Wales, said: "We hope that Cardiff Airport will now dev- elop in such a way that will bring real benefits to small and medium-sized businesses in Wales."

CRISIS measures are being introduced as the measles epidemic sweeping Swansea threatens to escalate with the start of the Easter holiday.

Health chiefs are worried that having thousands of children out and about in crowded places could lead to yet more cases being reported — with the risk of a fatality increasingly becoming a statistical inevitability.

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board is planning a community-based MMR vaccination programme offering immunisation sessions in places like schools and hospitals.

At the start of this week there were 432 cases across the ABMU board area, the vast majority of them in Swansea with some in Neath Port Talbot and a few in Bridgend.

This figure has more than doubled since March 4, when it stood at just over 200, with 116 cases reported in the past week alone and 51 people — many of them babies — hospitalised.

An ABMU spokeswoman said: "The school holidays have started and parents will no doubt be taking their children to places like leisure centres and cinemas.

"That means a large number of children will be in crowds in relatively confined spaces, rather than just being exposed to pupils in their school or their circle of friends outside school.

"There is a danger, therefore, that the school holidays will not help what is already a very serious situation."

Children need two MMR jabs to ensure maximum protection, one just after their first birthday and the second shortly after their third.

Babies up to the age of one are deemed particularly at risk as they cannot have MMR.

For them to be protected there needs to be so-called herd immunity, where there is sufficient protection among the wider population.

But this requires a 95 per cent take-up of MMR and the ABMU area has only achieved around 75 per cent.

Measles can lead to serious problems such as blindness, deafness, encephalitis and pneumonia, and in some cases can prove fatal.

During an outbreak in Dublin a few years back there were 1,500 cases reported and three deaths.

"Our numbers are now multiplying so quickly there are concerns that, if you look at the statistics, what happened in Ireland could happen here and there could be a death," said the spokeswoman.

She said plans were being put in place to hold community immunisation sessions in places like schools and hospitals.

In the meantime public health officials are urging people to ensure their children have the MMR vaccine even if they think they have already been exposed to the virus.

"The incubation period is 9 to 18 days," said the spokeswoman. "Having MMR could outpace the virus and stop symptoms developing or reduce their severity."

THE Scarlets go into their clash with the Dragons at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow with hooker Ken Owens admitting that it is now win or bust until the end of the season.

With four matches remaining in the regular Pro12 season, the Scarlets currently sit in fifth spot in the table with only an inferior points difference to the Ospreys denying them a place in the all-important top four.

The battle, which kicks off at 2.30pm, between the two West Wales rivals is set to go down to the final round of fixtures, and even though the Scarlets appear to have the easier run-in, Owens insists they cannot afford any slip-up.

"We are going to have to win four from four because the Ospreys showed last week (in beating the Dragons 52-19) they are hitting form," he said.

"It is a massive game for us and it is our chance in front of a good crowd at the Millennium Stadium to show what we are about."

Owens's words were echoed by head coach Simon Easterby.

"It is a vital game, every game is vital now in the run-in. We have put a lot of work in to put us in the position we are in and we are going all out to get a result and continue the momentum going into the final three games.

"We want to finish the season with something to smile about."

Easterby is set to name his side today with Wales wing George North expected to make his first start for the Scarlets since the middle of January.

Speculation over North's future continues, with Saints chairman Leon Barwell having confirmed the Premiership club have made the 20-year-old an offer to move to Franklin's Gardens.

North has a year remaining on his contract but has an option to move on at the end of the season, which would involve the Saints paying a significant transfer fee to the West Wales region.

"There's been strong speculation linking us with George North, but at the end of the day it's up to George to weigh up his options," said Barwell.

"We would really only want to progress a deal with him on the basis that he wants to come to Northampton.

"He's obviously taking the time at the moment to weigh up his options.

"It's a big decision for George and we don't want to put undue pressure on him. He's got to make sure that when he makes the decision it's the right one for him as an individual on the basis he really wants to come to Northampton.

"We're giving him some time and space to do that.

"Obviously any player that comes to Northampton we want them to come here on the basis that they're going to be committed to the club and they see it as a positive step forward for them.

"That's where the ball lies."

LEDLEY King claimed the other day that Tottenham Hotspur could win the title within two years.

And nobody laughed.

King is biased, of course.

Tottenham's former captain spent his whole career wearing the white jersey and now works as a club ambassador.

But you don't need to be part of Chas & Dave's backing group to see where he is coming from.

For so long one of the Premier League's also-rans, Spurs have a side good enough to trouble any opponent these days.

What they need now is consistency, and at times this season it has been there.

Tottenham's 1-0 win over Swansea on December 16, for instance, kicked off a run of 12 league games without defeat.

They have also pulled off some big results this season — winning 3-2 at Manchester United in September and beating Arsenal in the derby earlier this month.

"I rate the current Spurs team very highly," says King, who was forced to retire last year because of chronic knee problems.

"I think we've got a young and ambitious manager who's great and is going to do well for the club.

"I think we've got a great group of players at a good age where they're improving all the time and reaching their peak.

"The way the team are progressing at the minute, hopefully in the next year or two they will really be challenging for the Premier League."

Such a ringing endorsement for Andre Villas-Boas would have been less likely at the start of the season, when many Spurs followers were unhappy with the decision to jettison Harry Redknapp in favour of a manager who had just failed at Chelsea.

Yet Tottenham fans seem fairly happy now with life under Villas-Boas as they contemplate a Europa League quarter-final against Basel and possible — perhaps probable — Champions League qualification.

It has been a fine season for Spurs, who would have been very happy with their current position had it been offered to them at the start of the campaign.

Yet they will head for Wales this weekend with some tension in the air after an untimely wobble.

The 12-game league unbeaten run ended at Liverpool earlier this month, when Steven Gerrard's late penalty sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory.

Villas-Boas's men were then thumped 4-1 after extra time at Inter Milan, progressing by the skin of their teeth into the Europa League's last eight thanks to their 3-0 first-leg win against the Italians.

And Spurs' last game before the international break saw them beaten this again, this time as old boy Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal for Fulham at White Hart Lane.

On the same weekend Arsenal were winning at the Liberty Stadium to revive their top-four hopes.

The gap between Arsenal, in fifth, and fourth-placed Spurs is down to four points, and Arsene Wenger's men have a game in hand.

The pressure is on, therefore, as Tottenham try to emulate the neighbours by triumphing in SA1 — particularly as their next three league fixtures after this are against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester City.

"We have had very important games of late in the Premier League and Europa League, and we have more coming up," says Gylfi Sigurdsson, one of two Swansea old boys in the Tottenham squad.

"Hopefully we'll push on in the Premier League and get through to the semi-finals of the Europa League. That's what we're all aiming for."