Sports

Wednesday February 25, 2009

Spurs boss blasts game’s rulers for fixture pile-up

LONDON: Harry Redknapp saw his Spurs side take a giant step towards safety with a 2-1 win over Hull in the Premier League on Monday, then blasted the game’s rulers for ruining his League Cup final preparations.

Jonathan Woodgate KO’d Hull with an 85th-minute header before going off for stitches in a nasty head wound.

Spurs now face Shakhtar Donetsk again in the UEFA Cup tomorrow.

And angry Redknapp fumed: “Whoever heard of teams playing on a Thursday night before a Cup final on a Sunday?

“It’s ludicrous. In the old days, teams used to be able to go to a hotel for two or three days to prepare. Not any more.

“There’s no time for us to get any rest. The fixture list is crazy. Something has to be done if they don’t want to devalue the League Cup.”

Redknapp joked he has not even had time to get his Wembley suit measured for the date with Manchester United.

He added: “I just hope Juande Ramos’ old one fits me!” Redknapp, who made 10 changes on Monday to the side that started in the Ukraine last week, promised more for the second leg at White Hart Lane.

He said: “How many will I make? Eleven hopefully!”

Aaron Lennon put Spurs ahead, Michael Turner equalised before Woodgate sealed only Spurs’ second win in 10 games.

For Hull relegation appears to be a real possibility as they have registered just one victory in their last 17 Premier League games and are now just six points above the drop and one above Spurs.

Hull manager Phil Brown said his side had been unfortunate to lose to Spurs and insisted they had what it took to escape relegation.

“This has been a progressive season,” said Brown.

“We can’t lose games like that.

“We’ve got to learn minute details we need to pick up on.

“They know full well they didn’t deserve to lose that game. I believe we have enough ability and character in the camp.” — Agencies

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