Gomes: Spurs need more clean sheets if we want to win the title

Heurelho Gomes insists Tottenham are still in the Premier League title hunt after their 1-1 draw with champions Chelsea. But the Spurs goalkeeper admitted they must start keeping clean sheets if they are to maintain their challenge.

For once, it was Gomes' fault that Tottenham failed to complete a league shutout for the first time since the opening day of the season.

The Brazilian's howler gifted Didier Drogba an equaliser in Sunday's game at White Hart Lane, while he also handed the striker a needless stoppage-time penalty. But Gomes made amends for the latter error by diving the right way to deny Chelsea top spot.

The result left fifth-placed Spurs five points off the summit and Gomes said: "Teams like Man United or Chelsea, they keep a lot of clean sheets. We just changed the way we play now. We need time to adapt. Sometimes, we need to be more compact, defending, to keep more clean sheets.

"We concede goals because we attack as well. This season, we have a player like Luka Modric playing in midfield. I think we are still up there; we can keep going and can finish up there."

Spurs' solidity was boosted by the surprise return from injury of Michael Dawson, who led by example more than three months since his previous first-team appearance.

"He's a great player," said Gomes. "We kept a lot of clean sheets together last season. He was great for us and I think he's amazing in front of me. He's started now and he needs time to adapt."

Dawson captained the side on his return in the absence of the injured William Gallas. Gomes added: "He is a great guy; he is a friend of everybody. He pushes us a bit and we need players like him."

Admitting he was "angry" his side threw away another lead, Gomes insisted Spurs should now be ranked on the same level as the champions. "It's not easy to play against a team like Chelsea," he said. "When you come to a game like that and people say Tottenham can win the game, this shows for the players and for everybody how good we are. We must keep going and try to pick up points."