It’s time for Spurs to prove their growing critics wrong this weekend with a win against Swansea City.

The Lilywhites fans here in the Transfer Tavern think some of the negative press their team has suffered so far this season has been very unwarranted and they want their them to go out on the pitch at the weekend and really make a statement.

When you look at it at a glance, at least, you can see why they feel so aggrieved. Spurs have only lost once this season and that was last weekend against Chelsea who are the league leaders.

Indeed, the club were better than the Blues for the first half, too, and so really they are still well within their rights to think they are in the title race.

Of course, they have been knocked out of the Champions League and that cannot be forgotten but a win against the Swans should start to provide some more positive coverage thereafter.

Our landlord agrees and thinks the club should go with this XI…

GK: Hugo Lloris

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Whilst some Spurs stars have come in for criticism this season Lloris is not one of them. The Frenchman has been in superb for again this year and will once again starts between the sticks.

RB: Kyle Walker

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The flying full-back needs to start finding last season’s form as he is one of the main sources for Spurs to get width going forward.

He’s been hemmed in at times this year and he needs to think of a way to get around that.

CB: Jan Vertonghen

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The Belgian should be back into his more natural position with Danny Rose back from suspension and so the club will naturally look more balanced at the back.

Vertonghen will once again be the leader with Alderweireld still missing.

CB: Eric Dier

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Kevin Wimmer hasn’t really done enough to warrant staying in the side and so Eric Dier should be asked to fill in once more.

Dier is capable of playing this position well but it speaks volumes about Spurs’ lack of strength in depth.

LB: Danny Rose

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The left-back is back from suspension and so should start this one.

He, like Walker, needs to start getting forward more and helping Spurs out going forward if they are to get back into this title race.

CDM: Mousa Dembele

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Dembele couldn’t quite impose himself on the midfield battle against Chelsea over the weekend and that is part of the reason why they lost. He needs to be back at it to avoid Swansea causing an upset.

CDM: Victor Wanyama

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Wanyama has been Spurs’ best signing this season and should start this one. He’ll be the one expected to keep Gylfi Sigurdsson out of the game for the duration of this fixture.

RAM: Christian Eriksen

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Eriksen reminded us what he can do at Stamford Bridge with his fine strike against the Blues and now he needs to start doing more of it.

If he can find last year’s form Spurs will still feel they can win the league.

CAM: Dele Alli

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Alli returned to the side against Chelsea over the weekend and the fact that the team could return to their usual shape allowed them to be the better side in the first-half.

With more minutes he’ll return to his best form.