Redknapp laments Spurs finishing

Last updated : 23 February 2011 By BBC Sport

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was left to rue his side's wastefulness in front of goal after they missed numerous chances in the 3-1 defeat at Blackpool. Charlie Adam, DJ Campbell and Brett Ormerod put Blackpool 3-0 up before Roman Pavlyuchenko hit a consolation.

"We missed chance after chance after chance," said Redknapp, whose side had 25 attempts to Blackpool's eight.

"I've never seen so many open goals missed in my life. You can't miss eight open goals and expect to win."

Tottenham came into the match off the back of their stunning Champions League last-16 first leg victory at AC Milan last Wednesday.

But they were brought back down to reality by Ian Holloway's side, who started the match only two points above the relegation zone.

The hosts opened the scoring when Sebastian Bassong fouled Campbell in the box and Adam scored from the penalty spot.

Spurs wasted several openings before Campbell converted James Beattie's cross to double Blackpool's advantage just before half-time.

Home goalkeeper Richard Kingson twice denied Pavlyuchenko and after Luka Modric saw a chip cleared off the line, substitute Ormerod sealed the win.

Pavlyuchenko's late goal pulled one back with an effort deflected in off Craig Cathcart but it was too little too late for Spurs.

"We're attacking, suddenly they hit us on the break right on half-time and it's 2-0," said an exasperated Redknapp, whose side would have leapfrogged Manchester City into third had they won.

"We missed chances - second half it was chance after chance. We just needed a goal, if we had scored one I think we'd have gone on and probably won.

"But we kept missing open goals - three yards out, four yards out, missing, missing, missing. I've never seen a game with so many chances.

"It's obviously damaging. Tonight was a game I thought we would win but you can't miss chances like that. It was unreal - you had to see it to believe it."

Blackpool boss Holloway could barely contain his delight after the match.

The victory moved his side up to 12th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone.

"I don't think there is a word that has been written, printed or ever produced in the dictionary that I can use for how pleased I am," enthused Holloway.

"For all those scenarios that could have happened, and in the second half, looked like they were going to happen, and how depressed I would have been if they had gone on and taken a few more of their chances, I still don't believe my boys would have deserved that.

"I don't think we got what we deserved against Manchester City or Manchester United here and it looked like Tottenham were going to be too good for us, but we got the third goal at an absolutely vital time.

"I'd like to say thank you to all my lads, the new ones and the old ones - to Brett, because no-one deserves it more than him.

"It was a fantastic night for everyone connected with the club."

He added: "Does that make us better than AC Milan? I don't think so! But does that make up for some of the things that have happened recently? Probably."

With 11 games to go in their maiden Premier League campaign, Blackpoolhave given themselves a real chance of beating the drop, although Holloway believes they will need more than their current tally of 32 points to guarantee survival."What my lads are doing and the gaps they are bridging this level from where we should be is just phenomenal," added Holloway.

"Last season 32 points would have kept us up but we know we are going to need at least a few more, so let's get on with what we have to do next, which is Wolves away."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport