Redknapp: We've handed the title to 'poor' United
Tottenham Hotspur 0 West Ham 0
Monday 21 March 2011
Latest in Premier League
140 Sport blogs
Via the World: Welcome to the ocean
The sun is setting on my fifteenth day at sea. Pale pinks and oranges paint the western sky and gent...
iBet: Serena Williams looks hungry again
Serena Williams has looked right back to her best in recent weeks and more importantly she looks hun...
Manchester City top the ‘injury league’, with Manchester United bottom
The results of new research into every significant injury suffered by every Premier League footballe...
Related articles
Last week Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, described Wayne Bridge's move from Manchester City to West Ham in January as "the best loan signing of the transfer window," which only goes to prove that hindsight is a wonderful thing.
The England left-back's debut, in a 3-0 home defeat by Arsenal, redefined the term "error-strewn," and it seemed that his performance would help speed the likely departure of Avram Grant, the West Ham manager.
But both men have clawed their way back and West Ham have prospered accordingly. On Saturday, Bridge collected the man-of-the-match champagne as the team battled to their first point at White Hart Lane since 2005 and their first clean sheet away from home all season.
The point and the prize were well-deserved for a resolute defensive performance that frustrated Tottenham's shoot-on-sight attack. "Bridgie had not played in a year, and playing against Theo Walcott is not the easiest task," Mark Noble, the midfield player, said. "But he has not let it affect him. In the last month or so he has been fantastic for us. I am sure that if he keeps playing the way he does then Mr Capello will be on the phone to him."
Robert Green and Matthew Upson also excelled in front of Franco Baldini, the England assistant manager, while Tottenham would have impressed the watching Real Madrid scouts ahead of next month's Champions League meeting. Green produced a world-class save to prevent Gareth Bale celebrating his new contract with a goal from a free kick, but despite hitting the woodwork three times, and with Jermain Defoe below par following the death of his grandfather, Tottenham couldn't score.
That, Redknapp believes, is the difference between the chasing pack and the likely winners of the Premier League. "Really we are handing the title to Manchester United this year," he said. "This is as poor as Manchester United have played in years, but they keep stumbling along and nicking results when they should have got done. You need a bit of luck on your side. There is nothing between us and Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. We have got some fantastic players here and we have proved it in Europe and we have to believe it."
Subs: Tottenham Pavlyuchenko 6 (Van der Vaart, 71), Hutton (Corluka, 77).
West Ham Obinna (Cole, 77).
Booked: Tottenham None
West Ham Parker, Noble, Cole, Upson.
Man of match Modric Match rating 7
Possession Tottenham 55% West Ham 45%
Attempts on target Tottenham 15 West Ham 5
Referee M Dean (Cheshire) Att 36,010.
- 1 Lerner targets Lambert appointment by weekend
- 2 Brendan Rodgers 'agrees deal to become Liverpool manager'
- 3 Euro 2012 files: The youngsters
- 4 Euro 2012 files: Notable absentees
- 5 Club-by-club guide: Players available on a free transfer this summer
- 6 Hodgson likely to play it safe... but how about a quick call to Joe Cole?
- 7 Lampard set to miss Euros as England turn to Henderson
- 8 James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
- 9 Final curtain beckons for Lampard's mixed England production
- 10 Rodgers poised to complete Anfield move
- 1 'Homosexual Iliad' wins last Orange Prize
- 2 Brazil rocked by abortion for 9-year-old rape victim
- 3 Claude Miller: Film director who showed the dark side of youth
- 4 Get me out of here: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Dominican Republic
- 5 Anger over Christine Lagarde's tax-free salary
- 6 Did Andy Coulson commit perjury in Sheridan trial?
- 7 Interview with economist Paul Krugman: 'Greece will leave eurozone within 12 months'
- 8 The problem with social mobility
- 9 Image released of naked cannibal killed by Miami police as he ate homeless man's face
- 10 Israel hints it may be behind 'Flame' super-virus targeting Iran
Experience the Heineken Hub
Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
A home to be proud of with Halifax
Download the Halifax's brilliant, free new Home Finder app, and take all the pain out of finding your dream home
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
The problem with social mobility
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings
Bringing the IB to the East End





Comments