Source: Team_Talk
Fortune may favour brave Spurs
Tottenham are very much second favourites to finish fourth after a disastrous weekend but TEAMtalk's Rob McCarthy is still believing.[LNB] What a nightmare! Spurs get stuffed at Sunderland on Saturday while Manchester City thump Sunday League outfit Burnley to leapfrog Harry's boys and move into that coveted fourth spot.[LNB]Tottenham were two points clear of Roberto Mancini's men going into last weekend's fixtures and also had a healthy lead in the goal difference stakes, but after a day to forget for my lot (I'm still trying to get Darren Bent's goal celebs out of my head) and a day to remember for City, things are not looking quite as rosy in the fourth-place garden.[LNB]City's 6-1 victory at Turf Moor could have been far worse for Tottenham had the heavens not opened in the second half but that hefty win, coupled with Spurs' 3-1 defeat, now means the north Londoners only have a two-goal advantage over their nearest rivals for fourth and are a point behind - but at least we now have some nice easy fixtures coming up![LNB]Next up is an FA Cup semi-final against Portsmouth followed by home clashes against Arsenal and Chelsea and then a trip to Manchester United. Obviously the three fixtures against the title hopefuls are going to be season defining and I reckon six points will be needed to keep top-four hopes alive.[LNB]But to be honest, I think Spurs have done remarkably well to sustain their Champions League challenge for so long, given the number of injuries they have sustained since the turn of the year. Skipper Ledley King has been missing for more than half of the season, while Jonathan Woodgate has played only three times. Add injuries to the solid and dependable Michael Dawson and Vedran Corluka and all of a sudden, a back four of Kyle Walker, Sebastien Bassong, Younes Kaboul and Benoit Assou-Ekotto/Gareth Bale does not look capable of securing shutouts.[LNB]Aaron Lennon, who had been on fire before picking up a groin injury, has not played in 2010, while the influential Tom Huddlestone and leading goalscorer Jermain Defoe have both missed games recently.[LNB]My worry is that there seems to be a mental issue for some Spurs players when it comes to taking on the big three (sorry Liverpool fans, but it's not a big four this season) - almost a belief that they can't win. This clearly has to change and Harry Redknapp will really have to earn his money to work out a gameplan to upset the odds - but one thing in Tottenham's advantage is their ability to score goals. Harry must send out his side to attack, as there is no way they can keep a game tight and hope to pinch a 1-0 with their defence as it is.[LNB]So I'm still believing that Spurs can win the race for fourth, but they're going to have to be brave and believe in their ability to have any hope of dining at the top table with Europe's finest.
