Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham have developed a mental toughness
following the 2-0 win at Blackburn as they bid to secure a top-four
finish.
Peter Crouch got both goals in the 2-0 victory against
Blackburn at Ewood Park to keep the pressure on the leaders.
Redknapp said: "It was not a pretty game but one Tottenham
may have lost in the past.
"It was a great result for us. It was a tough match but we
have collected three points and kept a clean sheet away from home.
I have to be pleased with that.
"It was not free-flowing football like it was in midweek
against Manchester City. However we were solid at the back and the
goalkeeper did well for us. "
Crouch made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage-time when
he headed home following a cross from Niko Kranjcar, who chased a
lost cause before delivering the ball into the box.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, marking his first year in
charge, rounded on referee Peter Walton for allowing the goal.
Allardyce said: "It is a foul on Ryan Nelsen. He has wrestled
him to the floor and thrown his arms around him. The referee is in
a good position but doesn't give it.
"We were also 90 seconds into injury-time and only one minute
had been put up. So instead of being comfortable in the first half
and coming in at 0-0 we have been let down by the referee once
again.
"We do not like it when the referee messes up but there is
little we can do about it."
Crouch sewed the match up in the 82nd minute with a cool
finish following good work from substitutes Jermaine Jenas and
Robbie Keane.
It was Tottenham's second victory of the week after they
defeated City and came in the wake of revelations the players had
held a secret Christmas party.
Redknapp said: "We have a good group of lads and I do not
have any problems with them.
"Crouchy got two good goals and deserved to get on the
scoresheet. He works hard for the team.
"I thought we were fortunate to be 1-0 up at half-time but
Jenas gave us a lot of energy when he came on and Robbie also hand
a hand in the second goal, so it was a good day for us."
Blackburn could find themselves in a relegation scrap for a
second successive season and Allardyce was left cursing his luck
after Benni McCarthy's effort came back off the post.
Allardyce said: "I would say 99 times out of 100 he would
have scored but the goalkeeper has got something on it and it has
hit the post.
"As hard as we tried after that we couldn't find another
opening. It is one of our problems. We changed the system to go
more attacking but Crouchy finished us off.
"We are bitterly disappointed with the result and getting no
reward after doing a great job on one of the most attack-minded
sides in the league."
