Source: PA
Bassong urges players to bounce back
Sebastien Bassong has called on his Tottenham team-mates to put the 4-1 Carling Cup defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal out of their minds as they prepare to face West Ham in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
Both managers made several changes for the third-round clash at White Hart Lane, with only full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto remaining from the Spurs XI which had beaten Wolves last weekend.
However, it was the Gunners who came out on top and Cameroon international Bassong, who was captain on Tuesday, insists Spurs must now fully focus on getting a positive result at Upton Park.
"We are professionals, so we need to focus on the game at West Ham," he said. "I don't think it will affect us as we have a strong squad, and we will be all right.
"The main thing for us is the league, and as professionals we want to do well in every competition. It is still a bad thing to be out already, so early, but I think we need to bounce back.
"The fans are right to be a bit disappointed, we were at home and it was a derby - but the next home game is the Champions League (against FC Twente) and it is a bigger game."
