Tottenham Hotspur Football Club News

• Nickname:Spurs
• Founded:1882
• Manager:Harry Redknapp

• Ground:White Hart Lane
• Capacity:36,240

Crouch: Spurs are still upbeat

14 Sep 2009 - 09:06:54

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Striker Peter Crouch believes Tottenham can take great heart from their performance despite losing 3-1 to Manchester United on Saturday.

Spurs scored first against the champions at White Hart Lane but lost their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season following an impressive fightback from United.

Harry Redknapp's side were unable to profit after United were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Paul Scholes was dismissed.

But despite the first defeat of the season, Crouch believes that Spurs have proved that they can compete against the top teams in the league.

The north London club have already beaten Liverpool this season and take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

"We've got fantastic quality and have to remember we've had a fantastic start," said the England striker.

"In spells we were the better side and it wasn't as though we were completely outclassed all game.

"For the first half an hour we were pressing them and making them make mistakes and looking like scoring every time we went forward.

"But in the second half, for whatever reason, especially when they went down to 10 men, we stopped closing them down with the intensity we had in the first half.

"We didn't seem to be able to get close to them. If you let them play they will always hurt you and that's what happened.

"We know we're close to the top teams but they've been the top four for a number of years. I wouldn't say we are quite there yet.

"But we've got another chance to see quite how close we are against Chelsea next week.

"If we can get a result there, people will start talking us up again."