Saturday 15 April 2017 14:54, UK
With Tottenham one point away from recording their best-ever Premier League season at White Hart Lane, we break down Spurs' home form but ask why Mauricio Pochettino's side still remain seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
Going into Saturday's match against Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Spurs boast a near-perfect home record in the league, having dropped just four points at White Hart Lane this season.
It means Spurs are on the verge of achieving their best-ever haul at home since the Premier League's inception, needing just one point from their remaining three games to better their 2009-10 tally of 44.
And Spurs could yet break the 50-point barrier - a feat achieved only 11 times in the Premier League, with said club going on to win the title that season on eight occasions.
Manchester United have done so five times, winning the league in 2003 (50pts), 2008 (52pts), 2009 (50pts) and 2011 (55pts) - while a 52-point haul in 1995 was not enough to beat Blackburn to the title, who themselves recorded 53pts at home.
Meanwhile, United's record of 55pts is matched by Chelsea and Manchester City's title-winning seasons in 2006 and 2012 respectively, while the former achieved 52pts en route to 2010 glory.
Tottenham could well join United (in '95) and Newcastle (52 points in '96) as the only clubs to have failed to lift the trophy despite securing more than 50pts at home.
Spurs' home form is keeping them in the hunt for a first Premier League title. Their last draw at White Hart Lane came against Leicester in October, and a run of 11 straight wins has followed.
This is Spurs' best winning streak at home since October 1987 (14). Indeed, only in the 1919/20 season (12) have they enjoyed a longer winning run at home within a single season than now (also 11 in 1921/22).
And only Juventus hold a longer sequence at home in Europe's five major leagues with 16 straight wins this season. The Turin club have in fact won their last 32 Serie A games at the Juventus Stadium, and have not lost since the opening day of the 2015-16 season - some 20 months ago.
But while The Old Lady lead the way in Italy with a six-point advantage over Roma, Spurs find themselves seven behind Chelsea with seven games to go. A superior away record is currently proving the difference for Antonio Conte's side.
Spurs have evidently struggled on the road against top-half opposition. They are winless against those in the top seven in fact, losing at Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd, while picking up draws at Man City, Arsenal and Everton.
It's a startling contrast to their home performances this campaign, and is summarised aptly when noting that their win ratio drops from 88% down to 40% when travelling away.
However, Tottenham can take joy from the fact that they have now played every side in the top half of the table away from home, while Chelsea must still travel to Manchester United, Everton and West Brom.
Standing in the way of Tottenham and a first unbeaten PL season at home are Bournemouth, Arsenal and Manchester United. And in what looks set to be their final league season at the White Hart Lane as we know it, the record would be one worth cherishing - though it may not be celebrated if the title evades them once more.
