Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs 5 Burnley 0: Redknapp's axe could fall on hero Robbie Keane
All four one: Keane put his goals down to team spirit[LNB] How do you keep your hat-trick man happy? Simple, by dropping the striker who has just got you four goals.[LNB] Harry Redknapp may only have been throwing Peter Crouch a bone when suggesting he would start with 'the big man' against Bolton next week, but it was also an example of the careful man-management Redknapp must employ now he has an embarrassment of riches in attack.[LNB] The decision to hand Robbie Keane a starting place ahead of Crouch, despite the latter's display against Preston in the Carling Cup, was fully justified as the Ireland striker helped himself to four goals against a hapless Burnley defence.[LNB] And it seems Redknapp has managed to strike a fine balance between keeping his players happy even if they are not selected, while keeping those who are picked on their toes.[LNB] 'It's not easy,' he admitted. 'But Crouchy's a good character. Before he went out, he came and shook hands and said, "All the best, gaffer". 'He must have been disappointed but he didn't sit there and sulk. He was shaking hands with everyone before the game and wishing them all the best. It's so important to have a dressing room like that, where everybody is together.'[LNB] Keane was also full of praise for his team-mate's attitude and he is not taking his place for granted despite his finishing masterclass.[LNB] 'The reality is it's a long season and you're not going to play every game,' conceded Keane. 'With the players we have here there are times you are going to be left out. You have to accept it.'[LNB] Keane could be offered the chance to put such a pragmatic approach into practice as early as Saturday.[LNB] Kick start: Robbie Keane opens the scoring from the spot[LNB] 'Peter will get the opportunity to play plenty of games this year,' insisted Redknapp. 'Next week is another game away to Bolton, a big, strong team. We have got to go there and be prepared for set plays. Against Burnley we went with a small team, next week I will probably pick a bigger team.'[LNB] No sooner had he offered such hope, than Redknapp was quickly back into balancing-act mode.[LNB] 'Just because you bring players here doesn't mean you are going to play them,' he warned. 'They have got to earn the right to play.' Keep them happy and keep them pushing, that is Harry's game and it is working like a charm.[LNB] It stretches to other areas of his squad. Jermaine Jenas had a cracking game but Redknapp spurned two opportunities to heap praise on his midfielder, preferring to laud the performance of Tom Huddlestone as a makeshift centre back.[LNB] Presumably he feels he can wring more out of Jenas. Then there was the decision to introduce Gareth Bale late in the game.[LNB] Not just an opportunity for a bit of time-wasting, rather an opportunity to kill off the unfortunate statistic of Spurs never having won a league game with the Wales defender on the field. 'I thought we had to break that hoodoo,' said Redknapp.[LNB] Without an away point thus far, Burnley have a hoodoo of their own to break if their excellent home form is not be undermined. But manager Owen Coyle has no intention of setting up his side to play for a draw on their travels.[LNB] Two hot: Jermaine Jenas fires home the second for Spurs[LNB] 'What I'm tempted to do is go and win points away from home,' replied Coyle. 'I know how to do it and I've told my players how they can achieve that. There were opportunities in that game, but we never took them and it passed us by.'[LNB] An opportunity that should not have passed Burnley by was an equaliser for Steven Fletcher after Keane had opened the scoring for Spurs from the penalty spot, following Andre Bikey's trip on Jermain Defoe. Denied by the assistant's flag, Fletcher was clearly onside when he collected the ball.[LNB]Coyle's mood was not improved by the fact Stephen Jordan seemed to betripped by Defoe in the buildup to Tottenham's second, Jenas's shotdeflecting off the Burnley defender as he got to his feet. But the lackof mobility in Burnley's back line was one of the reasons Redknappplumped for Keane and Defoe.[LNB] [LNB] It was cruelly exposed by Keane, who smashed Aaron Lennon's cross into the roof of the net, stroked home Huddlestone's long ball and finished off by firing Crouch's flick through the legs of Brian Jensen.[LNB] Crouch's cameo was down to Defoe coming off early in the second half after dislocating fingers. It is unlikely to rule Defoe out of a trip to the Reebok, leaving Redknapp to ponder once more.[LNB] 'It's just a gut feeling I have when picking the team,' said the Spurs manager of his selection process. 'That's what I have to do, and if you get it wrong too many times you don't have a job.' Not much fear of that, Harry.[LNB] TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Cudicini 7; Corluka 7, Huddlestone 7, Bassong 6 (Dawson 88min), Assou-Ekotto 6; Lennon 7 (Bale 84), Jenas 8, Palacios 7, Kranjcar 6; Keane 9, Defoe 7 (Crouch 57, 7). Booked: Palacios.[LNB] BURNLEY (4-4-2): Jensen 7; Mears 6, Carlisle 5, Bikey 4, Jordan 5; Elliott 6, Alexander 6, Gudjonsson 6, Blake 6 (Guerrero 81); Fletcher 6 (Thompson 72, 5), Nugent 5 (Eagles 63, 6). Booked: Bikey. Man of the match: Robbie Keane. Referee: Mike Dean.[LNB] Tottenham striker Robbie Keane delivers a masterclass with four goals but boss Harry Redknapp warns him: I can't guarantee you a place in the teamGordon Strachan in frame for Portsmouth job as pressure grows on Paul Hart Spurs v Burnley - the action as it happened at White Hart LaneSol Campbell eyeing quick return after controversial Notts County departure Spurs must spend a whopping £20m to bring Bolton defender Gary Cahill to White Hart Lane [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone, Owen Coyle, Brian Jensen, Peter Crouch, Mike Dean, Gareth Bale, Steven Fletcher, Aaron LennonPlaces:Wales, Ireland
