Redknapp: We've handed the title to 'poor' United
Tottenham Hotspur 0 West Ham
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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