Redknapp won’t let Spurs dwell on Leeds let-down

January 26, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told his players to put recent disappointments behind them and renew their push for a top four Premier League finish when Fulham visit White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Redknapp’s side have endured a frustrating week in which they were denied victory against Hull by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill’s impressive display and then out-played by Liverpool, one of their main rivals for a Champions League place.

Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with League One Leeds was meant to provide an opportunity to get back on track but Jermaine Beckford’s stoppage time penalty condemned Tottenham to a replay at Elland Road.

Spurs remain in the coveted fourth spot for the time being but will be overhauled if either Aston Villa or Manchester City win their games in hand while Liverpool sit just one point behind having played the same number of games.

Despite their recent slump, Redknapp knows his squad can still enjoy a successful season if they pick themselves up quickly.

“We won’t dwell on it. I’m disappointed because we threw the game away when we had it in the bag but you have to pick yourself up and go again Tuesday,” Redknapp said.

Unsettled Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 2-2 draw with Leeds and earned praise from Redknapp, who scotched rumours he was about to be sold to Birmingham.

“Pav is here, he’s part of the squad and if he plays like he did when he came on every week he will be in the team every week. There’s nothing in the offing,” Redknapp said.

One player less likely to figure in Tuesday’s game is David Bentley after Redknapp left the former Arsenal man out of the squad for the cup clash in favour of youngster Danny Rose, paving the way for a possible move away from the Lane.

“He (Bentley) is here and he has to work hard to get in the team. That is all I asked them to do – come in every day, train hard and work hard,” Redknapp added.

“Footballers have a fantastic living, so it is not a lot to ask, is it? Come in every day, train hard and show a good attitude.”

Fulham are equally in need of a change of fortunes as their impressive start to the league campaign has spluttered in recent weeks.

Although Roy Hodgson’s team are still sitting pretty in ninth place, the west London club have lost their last three league games and haven’t won in the league since their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in December.

The Cottagers claimed a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, but Hodgson’s team struggled in disposing of their lower league opposition.

Hodgson also faces an anxious week as he waits to see if highly rated young defender Chris Smalling is the subject of a bid by Arsenal before the transfer window closes on February 1.

“If Arsenal are interested then I guess they better get in touch with us,” Hodgson said. “I have not spoken to Arsene (Wenger) at all. It has never been mentioned, and our chief executive has not spoken to their chief executive.

“Presumably that means they have got no interest, or the interest is being generated by someone else in the club or outside the club,” he added.

Hodgson will be without American striker Clint Dempsey who injured his knee during their 2-0 defeat by Blackburn last week.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Boaz Myhill, cup clash, David Bentley, day train, FA Cup, fulham, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, impressive display, jermaine beckford, manchester city, paving the way, stoppage time, white hart lane, youngster