Football: We are not too good to go DOWN Says DAVID PLEAT

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 28, 2003 | by anthony CLAVANE

DAVID PLEAT has warned his Spurs players not to think they're too good to go down.

The north Londoners are fourth from bottom, just one point away from the relegation zone, after crashing at Portsmouth on Boxing Day.

They entertain resurgent Charlton today knowing they've taken only one point from clubs in the top half of the table and Pleat said: "I really hope the players aren't thinking we're too good to go down. They've got to come to places like Portsmouth and compete with passion."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp thinks Tottenham might follow West Ham's example if they don't change their attitude.

Redknapp said: "I looked at West Ham's squad last season and thought they'd finish seventh, and then they get relegated with Cole, Di Canio, Sinclair, James and Defoe.

"If they can get relegated it can happen to anybody, including Spurs. It's very tight at the bottom. When your confidence goes it can be a problem for any team."

Since Spurs chairman Daniel Levy announced Pleat would be boss until the end of the season, the club have gone into decline. They've been battered 4-0 at Newcastle, knocked out of the Carling Cup by Middlesbrough and lost to Manchester United and Portsmouth.

Pleat said: "Passion is all very well but we've also got to be able to pass the ball well when we manage to get hold of it. And we didn't hold the ball up well enough against Portsmouth in the first half - Kanoute was below standard."

But Pleat picked out two reasons for fans, some of whom are calling for Levy to quit, to be cheerful.

First of all there's the emergence of battling youngster John Jackson, who has returned to the club after a spell on loan at Swindon.

"John Jackson has got a nice left foot and he's a hardworking boy," said the coach. "He can hold his head up after the Portsmouth game, which was his Premiership debut. He didn't hide from the ball - he looked for it. I had to pull him back from his loan spell because we lost Konchesky. He may get a continued run. We're not that well off for left-sided players.

"We had to push him into the team because we lost Darren Anderton for Portsmouth and we've got Jamie Redknapp and Ziege out, who's a left-footer, and Simon Davies is out. So we're bereft in midfield."

The second plus is the arrival of Michael Brown from Sheffield United.

Pleat said: "We want Brown to play for us as soon as possible. It's vital because I don't know if we can get people in when the window opens.

"The Premiership is a very tight league so who's going to allow their players to play for other sides? You're going to have to pay over the odds if you want someone in the window.

"So we'll have to see if we can get away from the relegation zone with the players we've got. I need players back from injury,"

That wish may be granted today as far as Anderton is concerned, with the midfielder likely to have recovered from the calf injury he picked up against Manchester United.

But Pleat will still be forced into a reshuflle in defence with skipper Stephen Carr serving a one-match suspension

Pleat added: "I don't think it's the case that we've got worse since it was announced I'd be manager till the end of the season. People can say whatever they like but I personally don't think that's true.

"We had two very hard games last week, Manchester United and Middlesbrough. We went to the wire against Boro - I thought we'd win in extra-time in the Carling Cup.

"We conceded two terrific goals to Robert at Newcastle. Then Berger scored through two free-kicks at Portsmouth and again we couldn't come back.

"But in the two intervening games the boys showed tremendous spirit. So while that spirit remains we'll be okay."

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