Adam apple of Harry eye

HARRY REDKNAPP and Ian Holloway were all hugs and smiles before kick off, and resumed their mutual love-in at the post-match press conference, but the two friends could be set for a collision course over Charlie Adam.

Once again, the Blackpool captain was the centre of attention, not only for his 76th-minute penalty that briefly gave his side hope of moving clear of the relegation zone, but for a horrible lunge on Gareth Bale that looks to have seriously injured the Welshman.

Although Jermain Defoe’s 88th-minute equaliser meant that both teams had to settle for a point, and a nervous wait to discover whether Spurs can qualify for Europe and Blackpool avoid relegation, all the talk afterwards was about Adam.

Redknapp made a cheeky late offer for the Scot in the final hours of January’s transfer window, after both Aston Villa and Liverpool had been rebuffed in their bids for the former Rangers midfielder.

Holloway described the various bids as derisory, and later admitted Adam was unsettled by the transfer talk, taking his eye off the ball in the ensuing weeks.

It was no coincidence that Blackpool’s form at the same time dipped more alarmingly than a roller coaster at the town’s famous amusement park, just as it was no surprise that Adam’s return to form on Saturday sparked a the sort of performance that saw his side make such a bright start to the season.

Adam was involved in everything — good and bad — as Blackpool withstood intense pressure from a Spurs side who missed an opportunity to make up ground on Manchester City in fourth place.

The Scot then took out Tottenham’s most potent weapon, Bale, with the sort of tackle that would have had Arsene Wenger running for the War Crimes Tribunal.

Having had a couple of fierce drives brilliantly saved by Heuerelho Gomes, Adam then had a 75th minute penalty saved by the erratic Brazilian goalkeeper, who spoiled his good work by conceding another spot-kick seconds later.

Adam had an unseemly tussle with his team-mate DJ Campbell to take the second penalty, but made no mistake this time, smacking the ball home to give Blackpool real hope of a great escape.

Having been denied in January, Redknapp may consider going back for Adam, who has the leadership qualities his side lack. He hinted at wholesale changes this summer as Spurs build for next season, and Adam must be a consideration.

“He’s a good player, isn’t he?” said Redknapp. “The closest I got to signing him was at 10 past 10 on transfer deadline night, when the chairman rang me to ask if I wanted Charlie Adam.

“I hadn’t even thought about him, but the chairman said he thought we could get him on the cheap. But at 10 to 11 we were told it was too late. I didn’t lose any sleep over it, but if he had have come here it would have been great because he’s a fantastic player.”

Although Redknapp was not happy with the tackle on Bale, he admires the drive of the Scot, who is an old-fashioned leader in the Dave Mackay or Roy Keane mould, combining silk and steel with an iron fist for his team-mates and opponents.

Holloway knows it too, and does not want to lose his captain. When asked if he was resigned to selling him in the summer, Holloway responded in typically spiky style.

“I’m not resigned to losing anything, and if you think I am, you don’t know me.”

Holloway defended Adam against the criticism of Kevin Keegan, the ESPN pundit who thought his tackle on Bale was deliberately spiteful, and said: “Kevin doesn’t know him like I do. He’s not like that at all.

“If you are hated it means you can’t be that bad. If no-one cares about you, then you can’t be much good

“Alan Shearer upset him this week by saying he hoped his (Adam’s) time has not passed him by. I think he’s a terrific lad, one of the seven best players in this division (in the PFA shortlist) at just 24 years old, and is only getting better. So how can his time have passed by?

“It’s disrespectful to me and my judgement because I have been in management 15 years and know how good a player like him is.

“I won’t get robbed. Harry said he tried to get him on the cheap — well try that again.

“You won’t get anything off my chairman.”