We deserved to win - Harry

Harry Redknapp was left to reflect on a ‘poor' equalising goal as victory slipped through our fingers in injury time at Birmingham on Saturday.

We had the better chances of a tough encounter at St Andrews and looked on our away to another big away win when Jermain Defoe struck in the 69th minute.

The home side saw striker ‘Chucho' waste their best chances - one in each half - but they refused to give up and were rewarded in the first of five minutes of added time when James McFadden crossed, Cameron Jerome headed back across goal and Liam Ridgewell, up from left-back, finished from close range.

It brought back memories of the 2-2 draw at Everton when we led 2-0 only to draw 2-2 and although we weren't as dominant as we were at Goodison that day, it was none the less disappointing.

"We deserved to win," said Harry. "They never really threatened us and we were in control. It was a game for us to lose, or draw in this case.

"They weren't in the game but when we scored we invited them onto us a bit, that was the problem.

"It was a poor goal to concede though, we defended poorly on it."

The draw was enough to maintain our fourth place in the Barclays Premier League but Liverpool and Villa closed the gap with wins. Manchester City face Portsmouth on Sunday.

Harry added: "It's tight. If we'd won it would have put us in great shape. Villa had a big win away, Liverpool have won again, City will be right up there and Everton won't be far away with how they are going. They are on a great run and won away again. You never know."
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Late case of the Blues

A stoppage time equaliser prevented us recording our second win in a week as Birmingham City salvaged a 1-1 draw at St Andrews on Saturday.

Jermain Defoe was on the end of a well crafted and well deserved opener with 21 minutes remaining and it appeared an away win was on the cards until Liam Ridgewell popped up with a leveller at the beginning of added on time.

Both sides were unchanged for this encounter in the sunny, but chilly midlands and it was David Bentley who took the first pot shot on goal from distance, one with good intent but not one that was going to trouble Joe Hart in the Birmingham goal.

Heurelho Gomes was called upon for some smart work moments later when Chucho picked out the run of James McFadden into the area. The Scot cleverly reversed the play back in the direction of Lee Bowyer, who placed a precise effort aimed for the bottom corner with Gomes saving well to his right.

Bentley worked himself another shooting position nine minutes in that took a deflection and fell at the feet of Luka Modric, who looked set to open the scoring but his low shot fired narrowly wide. Peter Crouch and then Bentley again had shots blocked by defensive lunges as a tidy authority spread throughout the team's play.

At the other end Chuchu got the better of Ledley King and Michael Dawson, creating himself a clear shooting chance in front of goal, but thankfully did not generate any placement or power and Gomes was able to field with ease.

A fizzed Vedran Corluka cross to the near post was met by the head of Jermain Defoe but was off target. Birmingham crept back into the contest possession-wise as the clock ticked past the 30 minute mark.

Bentley forced Hart into a snap save at the near post after a feint and a shrug of the shoulders defeated his marker Ridgewell - Defoe later trying a shot from a similar position with less accuracy.

It was a half of considerable promise but no reward in terms of score, although the performances of Gareth Bale, Wilson Palacios and Luka Modric suggested this could alter in time.

The second half began in an encouraging fashion with a couple of teasing crosses from Bentley keeping the home defenders occupied. Bentley then volleyed Bale's cross into the near post and it took Hart two attempts to gather under pressure from Tom Huddlestone.

Modric crafted a opening for Defoe on the run and the little striker took the ball on before taking aim. Crouch intervened at the point of shot and the ball trickled wide.

Momentum was gathering and Birmingham were beginning to get penned in to their own half, but the tireless Palacios was the unfortunate recipient of a yellow card on a rare sortie forward by the home side. Bowyer jinked forward and was about to come under a challenge from the Honduran, but Palacios opted out and made no contact. A free-kick was awarded by Mr Attwell on the edge of the area and a card issued to a disbelieving player.

The deadlock was broken in some style in the 69th minute. The excellent Bale exerted even more energy down the left flank and whipped in a cross that Crouch helped on virtually at ground level. Waiting for the flick was the predator Defoe, who struck first time into the bottom corner, leaving Hart standing.

Birmingham had the chance to level when Chuchu was played through, but the striker took an extra touch, cut inside and by the time he had done that, Dawson and King were in position to lunge to good effect.

Robbie Keane came on Defoe with 12 minutes left on the clock, the goalscorer having just been booked for handball. Jermaine Jenas was also added to the mix in place of Bentley as the team sought to see out time without alarm.

This proved not to be the case when a deep cross was headed back across goal by Cameron Jerome and Ridgewell was waiting to thump home at the far post. The fourth official had just signalled five minutes of stoppage time, but this was not long enough in the bid to restore the advantage.
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Gudjohnsen joins

We are delighted to announce that Eidur Gudjohnsen has joined the Club from Monaco for the rest of the season.

The 31-year-old forward has previous experience of English football having won two Premier League titles and one League Cup during a six-year spell with Chelsea where he made 263 appearances and scored 86 goals, following two seasons with Bolton Wanderers.

The Iceland international left Stamford Bridge for Barcelona in the summer of 2006 and was part of their treble winning campaign of last season where the La Liga club won the Spanish league championship, Cope del Rey and UEFA Champions League.
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Kaboul completes return

We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Portsmouth for the transfer of Younes Kaboul to the Club.

The French centre-back will experience his second spell at the Club having left White Hart Lane in August, 2008 for Portsmouth, where he made 50 appearances, scoring five goals.

The 24-year-old played 29 games and scored four goals during his previous time at the Club, having originally joined us from Auxerre in July, 2007.
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Crouch, Bentley secure key win

Peter Crouch and David Bentley fired us to a vital 2-0 win against Fulham in the Barclays Premier League at the Lane on Tuesday night.

With every point now so precious, it was a welcome maximum after the recent goalless draw against Hull and defeat at Liverpool. The victory also re-established a three-point gap over the Reds as they were held at Wolves.

Bentley, returning for his first start since December 1, was involved as Crouch opened the scoring after 27 minutes and then saw his 60th-minute free-kick clip off Fulham's defensive wall and nestle in the back of the net.

Gareth Bale impressed again at left-back and Luka Modric's clever skills were vital on a night where a yard of space was hard to come by against a workaholic Fulham side.

Harry Redknapp made four changes from Saturday's FA Cup draw against Leeds United.

Vedran Corluka and Ledley King returned in defence for Alan Hutton and Sebastien Bassong - King wore the captain's armband again - with Bentley and Tom Huddlestone back in midfield for Jermaine Jenas and Niko Kranjcar, who missed out due to illness.

Following the recent performances of visiting goalkeepers Boaz Myhill and Casper Ankergren, you could have excused a collective sigh of 'here we go again' as went went straight on the front foot, only to see Huddlestone's half-volley turned around the post by Mark Schwarzer. Less than a minute gone, first save registered.

Unlike Hull and Leeds though, it wasn't a case of chance after chance in the first half. So well organised, Fulham make you fight for every yard of space from front to back and we had to work hard to do so.

Huddlestone connected well again but aimed straight at Schwarzer while after patient build-up on nine minutes, Bale's cross was nodded just wide by Crouch.

There was a moment of danger in the 12th minute when Zoltan Gera lofted the ball in for Bobby Zamora and Heurelho Gomes was out bravely to save at his feet. The keeper took a knock in the process and needed treatment to his right arm but was able to continue.

It took another 15 minutes for the next possibility when Bale and Modric worked a yard of space down the left and Bale's cross was almost spilled by Schwarzer with Crouch lurking.

The crucial opening goal arrived on 27 minutes and was all about Modric's persistence. Bentley crossed from the right, Schwarzer came and missed and it looked like the ball had to go out of play but as Bjorn Helge Riise tried to shepherd the ball out, Modric managed to flick it away from him and then fashion a cross for Crouch, who finished with a deft flick from eight yards.

Fulham rarely threatened our goal but restricted us to just two more noteworthy attempts in the first half, Huddlestone sliced wide and then Modric teased Aaron Hughes before firing just over.

The second half picked up where the first left off as we controlled possession and fought hard to carve out chances.

The first arrived after 50 minutes when Palacios timed his run to perfection to meet Bentley's cross only to see his header whistle just wide with Schwarzer rooted to the spot.

Damien Duff fired a warning shot at Gomes two minutes later - his first action since the 12th minute - but the next action on the hour was significant.

It started with Bale's driving run down the left which was brought crashing down by a combination of Hughes and Riise on the left corner of the box. Bentley lined-up the free-kick and his curler clipped off Riise and left Schwarzer wrong-footed as the ball looped home.

Bentley was enjoying a purple patch and tried his luck again minutes later from another free-kick, this time a good 30 yards out and central. The midfielder was accurate again, but this time straight at Schwarzer.

Bentley was also at the centre of the next chance on 76 minutes, this time whipping in a free-kick from the right that Michael Dawson headed inches wide.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson made his third and final change in the 79th minute when David Elm replaced the ever-industrious Zamora, but if the visitors were adept at stopping chances, they also struggled to create. Gomes was forced into a dive as Diomansy Kamara let fly but it was only to cover a shot that went a yard wide.

Robbie Keane entered the fray for Jermain Defoe with nine minutes remaining but it was Fulham who pushed late on for a consolation, Gomes finally forced into action again to field Davies' volley in injury time.

Spurs: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, King, Bale; Bentley, Huddlestone, Palacios, Modric; Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Alnwick, Hutton, Bassong, Jenas, O'Hara, Rose, Keane.

Fulham: Schwarzer; Hughes, Smalling, Hangeland, Baird; Riise (Davies, 63), Murphy, Dikgacoi, Duff; Gera (Kamara, 71); Zamora (Elm, 78). Unused subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Greening, Kallio.
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Loan watch

Ryan Mason and Jake Livermore both found the net on Saturday - with differing outcomes.

Ryan struck the winner for Yeovil in the League One derby against Exeter City but Jake's first goal for Peterborough United came as scant consolation in a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.

Steven Caulker impressed again in a 90-minute stint at the back for Yeovil, with striker Jon Obika completing the trio of Spurs players on loan at Huish Park to start for the Glovers. Meanwhile, their Spurs team-mate Troy Archibald-Henville started for Exeter and played 68 minutes as it ended 2-1 to Yeovil.

Staying in League One, Andros Townsend was in fine form again for MK Dons and set-up the winner for Jason Puncheon after just seven minutes against Tranmere. That was the only goal of the game with Andros closest to adding to the scoresheet when his 25-yard strike landed on the roof of the net in the second half.

In League Two, Adam Smith set-up the first goal as Torquay raced into a 2-0 lead against Burton Albion when his cross-shot was turned home by Chris Robertson. However, Burton hit back to win 3-2. Sam Cox was an unused substitute for Torquay.

David Button played 90 minutes for Shrewsbury in a 2-1 win against Dagenham & Redbridge.

In the FA Cup, Kyle Walker played a full shift for Sheffield United as the Blades suffered a 2-0 defeat at Bolton on Saturday
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Luka's lament

Luka Modric felt we should have wrapped up the win against Leeds long before Jermaine Beckford's last-gasp leveller in Saturday's FA Cup tie at the Lane.

We dominated the early stages and Leeds had goalkeeper Casper Ankergren to thank for keeping them in the tie.

However, we took the lead just before half-time through Peter Crouch and following Beckford's first equaliser, led again when Roman Pavlyuchenko finished off a fine move for 2-1 in the 75th minute.

Leeds kept going though and found a second equaliser in the fifth minute of added time when Michael Dawson was judged to have fouled Beckford and the striker slotted home from the spot.

We now go to Elland Road for the replay scheduled for Tuesday, February 2 - subject to change pending television coverage - with the winners travelling to Bolton in the fifth round on February 13/14.

"We're all disappointed," said Luka. "We had the game in our hands but Leeds managed to score in the last minute.

"We all knew that Leeds are a good team and it was going to be tough, they beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, after all, but we deserved the win.

"We didn't take our chances and in the end we conceded a bit of an unlucky goal. I'm not sure if it was a penalty or not, but it was given and we need to quickly move on because we have another big game against Fulham on Tuesday."

Luka said he was delighted to see Roman get on the scoresheet - he was first on the scene to congratulate him. "Yes, I was pleased for him. Pav's a great player and a great lad and it was an excellent goal. It was a good moment for him."
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Team news

Aaron Lennon will miss the chance to face his former club Leeds United in the FA Cup at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

The winger who made his debut at 16 for Leeds at the Lane back in August, 2003 remains sidelined with a groin injury.

"He was hoping to be fit for this game, he has pushed himself but he's not ready yet," explained Harry on Friday.

Tom Huddlestone is also out of the fourth round tie with the knee problem that forced him out of the reckoning at Liverpool on Wednesday. "His knee is still a little puffy and we won't take a chance with it," said Harry.

Ledley King will not feature after starting at Anfield. The defender came off with cramp 80 minutes into the 2-0 defeat. "He came through that okay," added Harry. "But two games in such quick succession isn't possible at the moment and he won't play."

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (pelvis, wrist) remain sidelined.

Harry suggested that young winger Danny Rose will make an appearance against his former club.

Danny, who joined us from Elland Road in July, 2007, won a penalty in the last round against Peterborough United and has impressed Harry of late.

"He's worked hard, trained well, showed a great attitude and he'll get a chance to play," said Harry. "He can play wide left, he's quick and he gets at defenders. He can also play central and he's a tough lad as well. I'm looking forward to seeing him play."
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Niko's frustration game

Niko Kranjcar reflected on Saturday's goalless draw against Hull and admitted: "It wasn't to be."

The Croatian playmaker provided the final chance of the Barclays Premier League encounter when his free-kick found Peter Crouch eight yards out.

The striker rose unchallenged and met the cross with a powerful header - but as 35,000 fans and 10 team-mates waited for the net to bulge, Boaz Myhill stuck out his right hand to divert the ball away.

It was the story of the match with the Hull goalkeeper in inspired form, twice producing double saves to keep out Wilson Palacios and Robbie Keane, then Luka Modric and Robbie as well as denying Luka again, Crouchy again and Jermain Defoe.

As Harry Redknapp said: "What can you do?"

"It was very frustrating," said Niko. "We created a lot of chances but ultimately the keeper had the day of his life and we didn't get the three points.

"There's not much you can do about games like that. You need a bit of luck, we didn't have it and their goalkeeper had a great day.

"That was the story, we created chances but their goalkeeper came out on top.

"We stayed positive throughout and that showed with the chance for Crouchy right at the end. We put them under all sorts of pressure but it wasn't to be."
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One of those days - Harry

Harry Redknapp could only join the chorus of praise for Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill after Saturday's goalless draw at the Lane.

Myhill made save after save including two doubles from Wilson Palacios and Robbie Keane in the first half, then Luka Modric and Keane in the second half.

He also denied Jermain Defoe in the first half, tipped over Modric's 20-yarder destined for the top corner and capped it all with a point-blank save to turn away Peter Crouch's header in the final minutes.

"We couldn't have done any more," reflected Harry. "The keeper's had an unbelievable day, he may never play like that again in his life. He made some miraculous saves.

"We opened them up, created chances and he came to the rescue with five or six incredible saves.

"It's not as if we're coming away from the game thinking 'we couldn't open them up because of this or because of that', we opened them up but couldn't beat the keeper.

"He made saves that he's not entitled to make. He's had the game of his life and there is nothing we can do about it.

"I go home disappointed but I couldn't have asked for more. It's not as if we didn't create chances or there was lack of effort. We gave it everything and you sit there waiting for the first goal and it's game over, we walk off with three points.

"We just couldn't get that goal - the keeper looked unbeatable."
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Niko 'Kranjcs' it up in the Cup!

Niko Kranjcar struck twice in a Man of the Match display as Harry Redknapp's men put Peterborough United to the sword in the FA Cup Third Round at the Lane.

Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided 4-0 defeat of the Championship's bottom club, easing us through to the next round for the fourth season in a row.

Manager Redknapp showed all due respect to Mark Cooper's men, fielding a strong XI which dominated from start to finish in ensuring our progress.

Only five changes were made from the side that defeated West Ham in the Premier League last time out, with those coming in being skipper Keane, international defenders Alan Hutton, Gareth Bale and Sebastien Bassong, and the awesome Kranjcar.

So as could be expected, Spurs had the Championship strugglers pinned back throughout the first half, and the visitors had goalkeeper Joe Lewis to thank in large part for keeping the scores down at half-time.

Terrific saves from Keane, Tom Huddlestone, Kranjcar made it frustrating at times as we looked to capitalise on our notable dominance.

But we also had ourselves to blame for not being further in front at the break, with the usually clinical Defoe just out of reach of Bale's low cross on seven minutes before hitting the bar from point blank range two minutes later.

However, we never looked far from breaking the deadlock, and if there was a man most likely to be responsible, it was Kranjcar.

The Croatian has been in fine form ever since arriving from Portsmouth in early September and is clearly relishing his football at the Lane.

This was in evidence again here as all our attacking play seemed to come through him at some stage, and his directness also provided the greatest threat the visitors' goal.

On 26 minutes, he forced perhaps the save of the half from Lewis, latching onto Defoe's neat flick in the box and hammering goalwards, only for the England Under-21 keeper to somehow tip the shot onto the bar and eventually to safety.

But there was little Lewis could do when Kranjcar's next effort came in eight minutes later, as the midfielder cut in from the left hand side and curled a beautiful right foot shot into the far top corner to separate the sides at half-time.

And 12 minutes after the break, it was the same man who as good as ended Peterborough's FA Cup dream with the all-important second goal.

Bale, a constant thorn in the side of Posh right-back Chris Whelpdale, made one of many overlapping runs down our left to latch onto Keane's neat pass, got to the by-line and pulled it back to Kranjcar's to slide in his second of the game and sixth of the season.

With the tie now drifting out of sight, Posh decided to come out of their shell a little but twice found a goalkeeper in the form of his life standing in their way.

Shortly after our second, lone striker Craig Mackail-Smith picked up on a loose ball and hit a shot heading for the top corner from 20 yards out, which Heurelho Gomes flew through the air to palm away in spectacular fashion for what was his first real action of the match.

The Brazilian was called upon again 15 minutes from time, this time to get the all-important touch on Shaun Batt's low cross with Mackail-Smith waiting to tap home.

It wasn't to be but, by then, the game was well out of sight anyway after Defoe had atoned for his earlier miss to make it three.

Michael Dawson played out of defence for Kranjcar to take it forward, he found Bale who was once again on the overlap, and there was the in-form striker to poke home his 16th goal of what has been a memorable season for him so far.

And it was a memorable afternoon for young Danny Rose, who came off the bench on 72 minutes to replace Kranjcar for his home debut following his arrival from Leeds United as a scholar in the summer of 2007.

He made his mark against the club where he spent a month on loan earlier this season, earning a late penalty which captain Keane side-footed home to complete an impressive afternoon's work.


Spurs (4-4-2): Gomes; Hutton, Dawson, Bassong, Bale (Naughton, 78); Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios, Kranjcar (Rose, 72); Defoe (Pavlyuchenko, 74), Keane
Subs not used: Alnwick, Corluka, Giovani, Crouch

Posh (4-1-4-1): Lewis; Whelpdale, Morgan, Bennett, Griffiths; Lee (Green, 86); Boyd, Frecklington (Batt, 68), Coutts, Williams (Rowe, 73); Mackail-Smith
Subs not used: McKeown, Diagouraga, Wright, McCrae
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For the good of the team

Michael Dawson believes competition for places can only make the team stronger as key players begin to make their return from injuries.

The Christmas period has seen Luka Modric make his first start after a four month absence and Ledley King also return to the fold having been sidelined since early November.

Ledley came back into the centre of our defence alongside the in-form ‘Daws' for Monday's 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Lane.

It saw Sebastien Bassong, who had been Michael's central defensive partner in recent weeks, drop to the bench, and with Jonathan Woodgate slowly on the mend after his latest groin trouble, it goes to show the options Harry Redknapp has at his disposal.

‘Daws', who missed the opening weeks of the season with an Achilles injury, has had to work hard to win a regular place in our back-line and knows his high levels of performance must continue during a key part of the season as we fight to remain in the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

He said: "There's good competition for places at the back at the moment, especially with Ledley returning, but it's the same all over the park.

"That can only be good for the team as a whole because everyone has got to be at their best to stay in the team. We're all striving to stay in the top four and let's hope we can do it.

"There are four good centre-halves at the Club so when I came back from injury I knew I had to work hard and when my chance came I knew I had to take it.

"I go out on the pitch and do the same every week, give it my all and hope that's good enough to help the team win."

The form of ‘Daws' has been a key factor in our run of four consecutive games without conceding a goal, with many pundits now mentioning his name in the same breath as England's World Cup squad.

But the likeable Yorkshireman is refusing to believe the recent defensive record is anything other than a team effort.

He added: "We win together and we lose together. When we keep clean sheets it's down to the whole back four, the goalkeeper, and the team as a whole takes pride in it.

"It's something to build on and keeping clean sheets is a fantastic base for the rest of the team to play their football on.

"People are tipping me for an England place but I just hope that the gaffer keeps picking me for Spurs and if we keep winning and playing well, everything else will take care of itself."
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