Gomes the symbol of re-born Spurs
The Brazilian goalkeeper could have left White Hart Lane in January, after Spurs were offered the £8million they paid for him in the summer by PSV Eindhoven.
Now, however, he is a fixture in the side, the club’s confirmed number one and leading their charge for a European place.
“He’s number one, obviously because I’m picking him,” Redknapp said. “Carlo Cudicini came in and did well but he’s been unlucky because this fella has been in great form.
“A lot of the credit for that goes to my goalkeeping coach Tony Parks, and a lot of it goes to Carlo for coming here. He’s not happy with the situation but Gomes knows he has to play well now to keep his place.
Spurs have conceded just nine goals in 18 home games and could beat their record of 11 during the 1919-20 season. All they have left is a match against Manchester City.
They also travel to Everton and Liverpool and those tough away trips are why Redknapp feels West Ham or Fulham will probably sneak into the Europa League ahead of his own team. “The club wants to be in Europe, the chairman wants to be in Europe,” he said.
“I’d enjoy that after being bottom when I arrived but the actual competition is draining – Thursday to Sunday is not easy.”
Jermaine Jenas scored the winner for Spurs with a strike just before half-time, although the Baggies were unfortunate as goalkeeper Scott Carson appeared to have his view blocked by referee Rob Styles.
It was typical of their luck. West Brom have been playing attractive football but not getting the rewards and defeat here all but rubber-stamped their relegation.
“Rafael Benitez described it to me as a short blanket,” Tony Mowbray, the Albion manager, said. “When you are a team like us your feet are getting cold so you pull the blanket down. Then your head gets cold.
“You can’t get it quite right at both ends because you haven’t got the quality.”
Mowbray has at least made friends with the way he has approached games.
“I do what I believe in,” he said. “So-called experts tell you to be more solid, play more long balls and be more direct.
“For me, you have to be true to you beliefs. Would we have won more games? I don’t think so. We have a history – I remember Cyrille Regis, Brendan Batson and Remi Moses. Flair football that I’ve tried to bring to the club.
“That is why the supporters have stuck by me.”
TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Gomes 8, Corluka 6, Woodgate 7, King 6, Assou-Ekotto 6, Lennon 7, Palacios 6, Jenas 7, Modric 6, Pavlyuchenko 4 (Defoe 65, 5), Keane 6.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Hutton, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone.
WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson 6, Zuiverloon 7, Martis 7, Olsson 7, Robinson 6 (Simpson 58, 5), Koren 6, Borja Valero 6 (Filipe Teixeira 77, 5), Greening 6, Brunt 7, Mulumbu 6 (Menseguez 68, 5), Fortune 6.
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Bednar, Kim, Donk.
REFEREE: Rob Styles (Hampshire) 7: The game flowed freely – always a good sign for the referee.
MATCH RATING: *** The story of West Brom’s season: bright and breezy for long spells but still nothing to show for it.
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