Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he sees no reason to panic despite Saturday’s goalless draw at Sunderland extending his side’s poor Premier League run to one win in seven.
Arsenal capitalised on their rivals’ partial slip-up yesterday as Mikel Arteta’s late goal gave them a 1-0 home win over Manchester City which lifted the Gunners two points clear of Spurs in third place.
Redknapp’s men face Norwich at White Hart Lane today at the start of a favourable six-match run-in which he believes will secure Champions League qualification.
After Norwich, all five of Tottenham’s remaining opponents are entrenched at the wrong end of the Premier League table and Redknapp hopes that could prove crucial.
Redknapp said: “We’ve got six games and an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to. We haven’t got to play any of the top six now, and we’ve got some decent home games.
“I think you can get too uptight about it. You’ve seen teams get in good positions before but then the pressure gets to them. We’re quite a laid-back bunch and we’ll just get on with it.”
Redknapp will ring the changes for the Canaries’ visit, with his chief concern the fitness of Gareth Bale, who suffered a knock in a challenge by Craig Gardner. Aaron Lennon is set for his first start in almost a month following a hamstring strain, while Jermain Defoe is also in line to make a comeback.
Redknapp said: “I will make a few changes for sure. I couldn’t start Aaron because of his hamstring problem (at Sunderland), so I thought I’d save him for Monday (today).
“I had to bring him on 10 minutes before I would have liked, but I gave him 30 minutes and he should be okay. Most of them should be okay, but I will freshen it up.”
Redknapp was not overly concerned with his side’s inability to pick up three points in an attritional battle at the Stadium of Light, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
Bale, Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart all had chances as Spurs started well but fell away in the second half as the hosts’ rugged approach paid off.
Redknapp will certainly not make the mistake of underestimating the threat posed by Norwich this afternoon, and believes Canaries boss Paul Lambert is a contender for manager of the year.
“Paul Lambert has had an incredible season,” said Redknapp.
“He has done fantastic there. I think what those three (Lambert, Brendan Rodgers and Alan Pardew) have done is amazing.”