Redknapp plays down role in revival

Harry Redknapp believes a quiet word with his players is all it has taken to repair Tottenham’s shattered confidence.

Two goals from Darren Bent at rain-lashed Eastlands saw Spurs jump from the bottom of the Premier League to 16th spot following a 2-1 victory over Manchester City – their first away win of the season.

In a dramatic match, referee Mike Dean sent off three players – City’s Gelson Fernandes and Richard Dunne as well as Benoit Assou-Ekotto of Spurs – after Robinho opened the scoring with a close-range finish.

Spurs are now unbeaten in five matches since Redknapp arrived from Portsmouth, but he said: “I am not sure what I have done.

“I have just got to know them, talked to them and encouraged them. I have told them to be confident.

“We have lots of players, who can play and I have tried to make the training ground a brighter place.

“You should see our dressing room after this game, it is as if we have won the cup.

“Bent is in great form. It is fantastic for him he is already on 11 goals and important for us to get off the foot of the table,” Redknapp added.

“A few weeks ago we had only two points and that was scary. We could have been cast adrift.

“But the whole league is so close apart from the top four, who are clearly the best teams.”

City have won only one of their last seven league games and lie one point clear of the relegation zone.

While manager Mark Hughes was frustrated by the performance of referee Dean, he was heartened by a meeting with club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak before the match.

Hughes said: “I have had some great meetings with the chairman. He was at my house and we had discussions about the future and where we want to take the club. It was very positive.

“He understands the situation we are in at the moment. He is realistic. He knows injuries and suspensions have played a part. The key is to be stronger in future.”

Hughes was disappointed with the manner of the defeat, and said: “The referee should have been prepared to take the conditions into account but he was not prepared to do that.

“I thought Gelson’s second yellow card was harsh as the referee should have given him the benefit of the doubt. It has hurt us badly.

“As for Dunne’s sending-off, it was a coming together of bodies and you hope common sense would prevail.”