Scott Parker confident Tottenham can finish fourth

Scott Parker was sent off against Arsenal at the Emirates (GETTY IMAGES)

Scott Parker has dismissed suggestions Tottenham's inexperience will see them crumble in the race to finish inside the Barclays Premier League top four.

Saturday saw Spurs take a huge step to regaining Champions League football when they drew 0-0 at Chelsea, a result that kept them five points clear of their fifth-placed opponents.

But it was also a fifth league match without a win for Harry Redknapp's men and saw them slip three points behind third-placed Arsenal.

Having threatened to open up a 13-point lead over their arch rivals a month ago, there have been claims Tottenham are buckling under the kind of pressure the Gunners and Chelsea have long been used to.

Asked if that was the case, Parker said: "No, not really.

"It's like anything in general life. You need to stay positive.

"We all knew we were on a bad run but we need to keep believing in what we are doing and hopefully it will turn."

He added: "At some point in the season, you are going to go through a bit of a bad patch it's just about how quickly you can come out of it."

Saturday's performance suggested Spurs were destined to do just that ahead of what appears to be an easier final eight matches than their rivals.

Parker said: "Our aim has always been top four and that is not going to change. We need to keep winning games.

"It's about results now. It's not about playing well.

"When you get to the nitty gritty at the end of the season, like it is now, you need to keep trying to get points on the board.

"With Chelsea being in fifth, we know we needed to keep getting points."

Tottenham have not finished above Chelsea since 1996 but Parker believes his side are finally a match for their London rivals.

He said: "We have got a good team and any team we have played against, any of the top teams, we have showed our quality and class."

Spurs had long looked certain to be top dogs in London for the first time since 1995 but a dramatic reversal of fortune in the last month has seen them overtaken by Arsenal.

Redknapp scoffed at suggestions catching Arsene Wenger's men may be beyond his side, saying: "I still think we'll finish above Arsenal - bring it on, Arsene!"

PA