Redknapp given timely reminder of Kranjcar talent

STRANGE place, White Hart Lane.

For a while on Saturday, it seemed the greatest enjoyment the home support would get was from bitter north London neighbours Arsenal.

Their implosion at Newcastle, with the score displayed on the big screen at White Hart Lane in the dying minutes, brought the loudest cheer of the afternoon.

Daniel Sturridge’s equaliser, after Rafael van der Vaart’s penalty, seemed to have denied Spurs a crucial win in their fight for fourth, so the consolation of Arsenal’s demise seemed to have softened the blow.

And then a player who was desperate to leave Tottenham, Niko Kranjcar, struck in the 91st minute to bring the house down.

Just another day at the office in the Premier League then.

While Harry Redknapp’s men have been lauded for their entertaining play this season, it was their graft that made the difference this time.

With the score locked at 1-1, Redknapp sensed an opportunity missed. Not this time, not with Kranjcar fighting for his career at Spurs and eager to remind his manager of his existence.

The Croatian rejected a move to Werder Bremen last summer but voiced his concerns about his lack of playing time and it seemed Kranjcar was ready to quit Spurs.

But after sinking Bolton, Kranjcar now seems crucial to Redknapp’s cause.

The Tottenham manager said: “Niko has a great attitude. He doesn’t spit the dummy out, he just gets on with it. His dad was the same as him — he’s now in charge of Montenegro and has that mentality too.

“You need players like Niko at the football club and he deserved his goal. He wants to train and get on with things. He had to wait for his chance but he’s taken it. You can’t always pick everyone but he knows that. I have a great relationship with him.”

The result seemed tough on Owen Coyle and his spirited Bolton side. Buoyed by on-loan Sturridge’s equaliser on 54 minutes, Coyle believed his side could win the match — and they could have had a chance to, had Mark Clattenburg given a penalty for a foul on Gary Cahill.

Having already given two penalties previously in the match — Van Der Vaart converted the first and the second —only to retake his second thanks to Wilson Palacios’ encroachment — it was clear the official had form. But instead of pointing to the spot again, Clattenburg booked Cahill for diving.

“I am unhappy with the decision — he’s booked him for simulation and Gary’s not that type of player. There were a few decisions I was unhappy about,” Coyle said.

But despite this defeat Coyle has grounds for optimism, not least from on-loan Sturridge.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti decided to send him out on loan and spend £50m (€58m) on Fernando Torres but had he persisted with the young striker, he may have saved some of Roman Abramovich’s millions.

Sturridge deserved more from the game, as Coyle said: “I am a football lover and want to see players who entertain and excite —he certainly does that. ‘’

Van Der Vaart’s re-take miss ultimately made the game closer and the Dutchman limped off at half time with a calf injury.

But Redknapp insists he has no worries with the Dutchman stepping up to take another penalty. “He’s got great technique so there’s no problem there,” said the Spurs manager.