Tag Archives: sideline

Sir Alex Ferguson barged by linesman v Chelsea

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More trouble for Fergie with officials… this time the linesman crashes in to him!

By
John Drayton

PUBLISHED:

18:08 GMT, 10 March 2013

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UPDATED:

19:49 GMT, 10 March 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson's relationship with officials has been strained this week, after Nani was harshly sent off in the Champions League against Real Madrid and his side crashed out.

And now they're physically turning on him too – the Manchester United boss was minding his own business on the touchline in the FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea when the linesman barged in to him.

But instead of exploding in fury,
Ferguson saw the funny side and cracked a smile afterwards while rubbing
his arm where he had been hit.

Watch out: The linesman barges past Sir Alex on the sideline

Watch out: The linesman barges past Sir Alex on the sideline

Barge: The linesman knocks Sir Alex<br />

Barge: The linesman knocks Sir Alex

ITV pundit and former United player Roy
Keane also found the whole thing amusing, making a joke in the studio
referencing his outspoken views over the Nani red card.

On Wednesday, Keane fought against the tide of people claiming Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir was wrong to dismiss the Portugal star for a 'dangerous' challenge.

And he joked that the linesman could have been dismissed for 'dangerous play' after his skirmish with Fergie on Sunday night.

Winning managers can do what they like – Martin Keown"s Premier League bootroom

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Premier League bootroom: Forget style, winning bosses can do what they like

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UPDATED:

00:02 GMT, 15 December 2012

Would you rather be shouted at in front of your team-mates or be quietly told how to improve
I know which I prefer, but it seems there is still room for both the nice, arm-round-the-shoulder approach and the nasty 'hairdryer' treatment in the Premier League.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, for instance, doesn’t seem very loving towards his players.

The players will see their manager kicking every ball on the sideline and flailing his hands at every missed opportunity, and it will sink in. Last weekend’s defeat by United was the first time I’ve heard Mancini praise his side for a while.

Do it your way: Mancini and Ferguson have very different management styles

Do it your way: Mancini and Ferguson have very different management styles

What's the score With Alejandro Faurlin

City’s strikers seem to be suffering a goal drought, but they’re not short of talent. I just think they need to be reminded how good they are. They seem so desperate to win, it’s almost stopping them.

If you are uptight, it’s a lot harder as the tension strangles your desire, which is why I don’t think I’ve seen them play like champions until they were 2-0 down against United. Then, suddenly, there was an element of freedom about their football.

Two of the managers I worked under, George Graham and Arsene Wenger, were chalk and cheese. I remember coming in at half-time 2-0 up and George said we had been embarrassing. He went mad. I thought he was crazy, but he just wanted to make sure that we didn’t ease up.

Arsene, meanwhile, was always completely calm. When he first arrived, I thought: ‘Do nice guys win things We can’t be having this much fun and still win things.’

George always thought that we were too nice! I appreciated George’s will to win, but Arsene helped me become the best I could possibly be.

Liverpool against Aston Villa showcases two managers with very contrasting styles. Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert enjoyed great success with Swansea and Norwich last season but, while Brendan is very accommodating, Paul can be unapologetic.

I hear Brendan’s very hands-on on the training ground, but Paul comes alive on a match day. Paul also has a very young squad at Villa and he can manipulate them to play how he wants.

You would think a manager like Harry Redknapp, who is known for motivating players, would have sparked an upturn in fortunes at QPR, but he has not been able to do much, with three draws in his first three games. Maybe Mark Hughes was not such a bad manager, after all!

But then Mark did bring most of those players to the club – and maybe those players are just not good enough.

The Premier League incorporates managers with a whole range of different styles, but it only seems to matter when you’re not winning matches.

If you’re winning you can do what you like, although it helps if you’re a lucky manager, too.

Under the microscope: Wenger is coming in for huge amounts of flak this season

Under the microscope: Wenger is coming in for huge amounts of flak this season

Cup full of cheer

Spare a thought for Chelsea this weekend, who could kick off against Aston Villa a week tomorrow 16 points behind Manchester United — but as Club World Cup champions.

What a massive title that is to have to your name. I know where I would rather be. The tournament deserves respect because it brings the whole of world club football together, but we seem to disregard it in this country. It hasn’t got a memorable theme tune as the Champions League does, and it’s not a massive commercial success, but there is still real merit in winning it.

Just look at Corinthians. They went out early to acclimatise, have taken 20,000 fans and are talking about nothing else. When did it stop becoming a big deal for English football supporters

Up for the cup: Chelsea could become world champions if they beat Corinthians on Sunday

Up for the cup: Chelsea could become world champions if they beat Corinthians on Sunday

You read about him here first. So how much for Michu now

Don't say I didn’t warn you! Back in August, Michu made an instant impact for Swansea with two goals in their 5-0 win at QPR.

As I predicted, he is the bargain of the season at 2million. A player can start well but, after you’ve scored 10 goals, usually people find a way to stop you.

Not this guy — he’s the top scorer in the Premier League and still an unknown quantity, with 12 goals to his name already.

I was particularly impressed with the way he took responsibility for trying to get his team back in the game when they were 3-0 down against Norwich City last weekend. You could see how much he wanted it, and that he is a winner.

Other Premier League clubs will be after Michu in the summer, definitely. It will also be interesting to see if anyone tests Swansea’s resolve next month.

He cost only 2m, after all…

Pleased to Michu: The Swansea striker has illuminated the Premeir League this season

Pleased to Michu: The Swansea striker has illuminated the Premeir League this season

Bootroom

Bootroom

Martin O"Neill furious with Lee Cattermole

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O'Neill furious with captain Cattermole for red card in cup win

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UPDATED:

22:53 GMT, 25 September 2012

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill blasted captain Lee Cattermole for getting sent off in his side's Capital One Cup success over MK Dons.

The Black Cats progress to round four courtesy of two fantastic second-half goals from Craig Gardner and James McClean but it was the dismissal of Cattermole that left O'Neill with a bitter taste in his mouth.

The 24-year-old combative midfielder has now been shown five red cards in his Sunderland career and O'Neill felt his skipper gave referee Stuart Attwell little choice but to send him off for a first-half lunge on young MK Dons full-back Adam Chicksen.

Fury: O'Neill (left) was not happy with Cattermole (right) for getting sent off

Fury: O'Neill (left) was not happy with Cattermole (right) for getting sent off

Fury: O'Neill (left) was not happy with Cattermole (right) for getting sent off

He said: 'From the minute you start lunging in you are giving the referee no option. It looked from the sideline that the referee had no option.

'I think that whatever we say, we can watch it back a hundred times, the referee is watching someone lunge in and you run that risk, it is crazy.'

O'Neill, who has won the League Cup on two occasions as a manager with Leicester, felt Cattermole set a bad example for his team-mates.

'You can't do it, we talked about discipline before the game and there we are, down to 10 men, it is a hard enough battle here and he didn't help himself and he didn't help his team,' he said.

'He started the season off brightly for us and he's a great leader – but he has to have discipline himself.

'There is no point asking for discipline from the team when you don't show it yourself.'

Marching orders: Referee Stuart Atwell sends Cattermole off

Marching orders: Referee Stuart Atwell sends Cattermole off

Gardner's tremendous 25-yard free-kick and an individual effort from McClean secured a relatively safe passage into the next round and O'Neill felt his players overcame a potentially tricky fixture to get there.

He said: 'I don't want to go overboard about it but it is good to win.

'I was very concerned tonight considering some of the players we had to leave out of the team.

'To win tonight was great, considering the circumstances of playing most of the game with 10 men.

'I'm obviously delighted we won the game and it is really pleasing to be in the hat for the next round.'

Another positive for O'Neill was being able to give some game time to winger Adam Johnson.

Wondergoal: Gardner (left) is mobbed after his strike

Wondergoal: Gardner (left) is mobbed after his strike

The summer signing from Manchester City has been missing with a thigh injury but was introduced with six minutes to go as he continues his comeback.

O'Neill added: 'Of course McClean was excellent and scored a great second goal that allowed me to get Adam Johnson on the pitch for a few moments.

'It was one of those where I wanted to try and give him just a feeling for things again.

'In an ideal world it would have been great if he had a little longer, another aspect was of course that there was a chance of the game going into extra-time and there was a chance of him getting on.'

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson felt his side could have come out on top in the game but was pleased with the way his players took the game to their top-flight opponents.

Clean strike: James McClean doubles Sunderland's lead

Clean strike: James McClean doubles Sunderland's lead

He said: 'I thought we deserved a little bit more out of the game to be honest and I think most people in the ground would agree with that.

'What a wondergoal that was at 0-0 and that took the stuffing out of us.

'We had to go on the front foot, because we have got the man advantage and we were also a goal behind.

'We knew then that if we were going to concede a goal it would be on the break to either (Louis) Saha or McClean because that is the quality they possess.'

Robinson was also looking forward to learning from his counterpart and enjoyed pitting himself against a Premier League club.

'We have had four changes and weren't at full strength either,' he said. 'I think we played well enough tonight but Sunderland have shown us tremendous respect and I'm looking forward to having a chat with Martin O'Neill and picking his brains so I can improve as a manager as well.'

Nigel Adkins proud as Southampton bounce back against Aston Villa

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Adkins proud as Southampton show fighting spirit to bounce back against Villa

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UPDATED:

20:32 GMT, 22 September 2012

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins highlighted togetherness as the catalyst to his side overcoming their miserable start to life back in the Premier League with a 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa.

Saints came into the match rooted to the bottom of the standings after four successive defeats and looked on course for another loss when Darren Bent gave Villa a first-half lead.

However, Rickie Lambert drew the hosts level and then played a part in the build-up as Nathaniel Clyne tucked away a superb ball from Gaston Ramirez.

Jason Puncheon saw a shot deflected in by Villa defender Ciaran Clark shortly afterwards, before Lambert netted from the spot in stoppage time to secure a victory that helps lift the pressure off the newly-promoted side.

On target: Rickie Lambert hit two as Southampton recorded their first points of the campaign

On target: Rickie Lambert hit two as Southampton recorded their first points of the campaign

'I think it is understandable when you lose the first games of the season [there is a bit of tension and anxiety],' Adkins said.

'It is always a situation that could be pressurised, if you like. We keep talking to players about working through the process.

'We want to pass the football and everyone is well aware of that. We've done it on many, many occasions.

'I think the supporters understand that as well and there was a massive togetherness all the way through the stadium together.

'One or two passes may have gone astray but there was a real belief about what we do. We scored some good goals and arguably could have got a couple more.

'It is great that we have got a football club where everyone is united together. We have come a long way in a short space of time and [even] sometimes when things aren't quite going our way, everyone pulls together.

Mixed emotions: Paul Lambert and Nigel Adkins on the sideline

Mixed emotions: Paul Lambert and Nigel Adkins on the sideline

'Everyone has worked very, very hard from the chairman all the way down. We have got some fantastic staff, some fantastic football players and importantly the supporters, who are outstanding.

'They get behind the players and the team. They know what we are trying to achieve, what we are achieving and, together as one, we're doing it.'

It was quite a return to form by Southampton after last week's 6-1 hiding at Arsenal.

Adkins shook things up in a bid to change his side's fortunes, bringing in Ramirez, Maya Yoshida and Paulo Gazzaniga for their full Premier League debuts.

The latter was a surprise inclusion, with the 20-year-old Argentinian goalkeeper replacing club captain Kelvin Davis after he conceded 14 goals in Southampton's first four Premier League matches.

'They are decisions that all managers have to make,' Adkins said. 'Kelvin Davis is an outstanding professional. He has been fantastic since I joined this football club and has been an ever-present for us.

'I've got to make a decision about what I have to go and do. I spoke to Kelvin on Thursday about it and he reacted exactly how I imagined he would.

Harsh lesson: Paulo Gazzaniga can only watch as Darren Bent hits the opener

Harsh lesson: Paulo Gazzaniga can only watch as Darren Bent hits the opener

'He has been a total professional, got right behind the players and has given Paulo a lot of support and Paulo has gone and put in a good performance today.'

While Southampton can celebrate a vital first three points, Villa left St Mary's wondering what could have been.

Christian Benteke came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage shortly into the second half, before manager Paul Lambert's namesake inspired a superb comeback.

'The first half I thought we were worthy of it but you can't defend as deep as that and expect to get a 1-0,' Lambert said.

'We had a couple of chances to make it two and we were okay for 50 minutes. They have been down before in games so there was no need to panic. At 2-1 you are still in the game but we have moments like that.

'I never get too high when we win or too low when we lose. The lads know, they don't need me to tell them what's good and what's not. The first half we were fine but then we gave ourselves too much to do.'

Australia 26 South Africa 19: Wallabies earn maiden Rugby Championship win

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Australia 26 South Africa 19: Comeback earns Wallabies maiden Championship win

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UPDATED:

13:53 GMT, 8 September 2012

Job done: Wallabies captain Will Genia lifts the Mandela Challenge Plate

Job done: Wallabies captain Will Genia lifts the Mandela Challenge Plate

Australia's Ben Alexander and Scott Higginbotham scored second-half tries as the Wallabies beat South Africa 26-19 on Saturday for their first win in the four-nation Rugby Championship.

Trailing 13-6 at half-time, Alexander made the big second-half play with 11 minutes left and the scores level at 19-19. He made a 15-metre charge down the blindside and Berrick Barnes converted from the sideline to give Australia their fifth straight win over South Africa.

Bryan Habana scored South Africa's only try.

The result left New Zealand, who beat Argentina 21-5 earlier on Saturday, in first place in the Rugby Championship with 12 points, five ahead of South Africa. Australia have four points and Argentina two.

The Springboks opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty by fly-half Morne Steyn after the Wallabies were penalised for not releasing the ball. Australia leveled 14 minutes later with a Berrick Barnes penalty.

First blood: South Africa were leading at half-time

First blood: South Africa were leading at half-time

Six minutes later, the Springboks scored the only try of the first half following a number of quick-phase passes which saw wing Habana cross just to the left of the posts, with Steyn converting.

South Africa went further ahead when Australia were penalised for entering the ruck from the side and Steyn's kick from almost 50 metres out on a slight angle gave the visitors a 13-3 lead.

Australia closed the gap to the half-time deficit of 13-6 in the 29th minute with Barnes' penalty after the South Africans collapsed the preceding scrum.

Lifeline: Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was under pressure heading into the match

Lifeline: Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was under pressure heading into the match

Lifeline: Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was under pressure heading into the match

After back-to-back Bledisloe Cup losses to New Zealand, Australia coach Robbie Deans' future had looked precarious before the match. However, replacement Higginbotham finally broke a 178-minute Australian try-scoring drought when he burst through just two minutes after coming onto the field for No 8 Radike Samo.

Though Australia had failed to score a point in four consecutive halves of football, Higginbotham's effort in the 56th minute put the Wallabies in front 16-13 – their first lead of the match.

Next Saturday, the Springboks travel to Dunedin, New Zealand to play the All Blacks while Australia host Argentina on the Gold Coast in Queensland state.

Scott Parker to miss start of season: EXCLUSIVE

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EXCLUSIVE: Spurs blow with surgery set to sideline Parker for start of the season

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UPDATED:

21:59 GMT, 26 June 2012

Scott Parker could miss the start of the Barclays Premier League season amid fears the Tottenham midfielder may need surgery on his troublesome achilles.

With Spurs set to appoint Andre Villas-Boas as their manager next week, the Portuguese will have an immediate problem to solve.

Red zone: Scott Parker looks set to have surgery on his troublesome achilles

Red zone: Scott Parker looks set to have surgery on his troublesome achilles

Roy Hodgson said Parker was struggling with the injury during England’s European Championship quarter-final against Italy on Sunday, having missed all but a few minutes of the final month of the domestic season with the problem.

Now Parker may need an operation to clean up the area, which in turn could delay his start to the season and rule him out of the August 15 friendly against Italy in Switzerland.

Tottenham are braced for the setback because they are pressing ahead with the pursuit of Hoffenheim’s Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Brazil 0 Mexico 2: Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos strike

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Samba boys stunned by Mexico as Premier League's Hernandez and Dos Santos strike

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UPDATED:

23:09 GMT, 3 June 2012

Giovani Dos Santos and Javier Hernandez both scored in the first half as Mexico beat Brazil 2-0 on Sunday in a final warm-up for the Mexicans before World Cup qualifying.

It was the second straight game in which Mexico's top two forwards each scored, indicating the Mexican attack is in top form at the right time.

Mexico play Guyana on Friday to open the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region.

Dos Santos (centre) Hernandez (right)

Mexico celebrate

Mexican delight: Giovani dos Santos (centre) and Javier Hernandez (right) celebrate as Mexico triumphed

'This game served us well in our plans
for qualifying,' Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said.

'We killed two birds with one stone in beating a strong
opponent and preparing ourselves for qualifying.'

Dos Santos opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on an unlikely conversion from a difficult angle near the sideline. The Tottenham forward chipped the ball from the left side of the box into the upper corner of the right side, beating goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, who was making his second start for Brazil.

Leap: Tottenham target Leandro Damiao heads towards goal

Leap: Tottenham target Leandro Damiao heads towards goal

Brazil coach Mano Menezes dismissed the shot as a 'fortunate' strike.

'Giovani was crossing it into the box and scored,' Menezes said.

Ten minutes later, Dos Santos again was in the middle of the action. Brazilian defender Juan Jesus took him down inside the box, a clumsy foul because Dos Santos' back was to the goal. On the penalty kick, Cabral guessed correctly, but Manchester United striker Hernandez's strike found the net.

Floored: Brazil striker Hulk is a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea

Floored: Brazil striker Hulk is a target for a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea

Brazil fielded a young squad of under-23 players in preparation for the upcoming Olympics in London. This particular squad was in just its third game together and found itself trailing for the first time.

'In the first half, we needed more calm,' Menezes said. 'When it was 0-0, we needed to slow down and show more patience. But this is normal with young players.'

No go: Neymar is tugged back as he tries to work an opener for a young Brazil side

No go: Neymar is tugged back as he tries to work an opener for a young Brazil side

Federer blitzes Tipsarevic to set up Berdych final as Swiss shines on Madrid"s blue clay

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Federer blitzes Tipsarevic to set up Berdych final as Swiss shines on Madrid's blue clay

PUBLISHED:

22:03 GMT, 12 May 2012

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UPDATED:

22:03 GMT, 12 May 2012

Roger Federer will play for his third Madrid Open title after cruising past Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-3.

The Swiss star advanced to meet Tomas Berdych, who edged Juan Martin del Potro 7-6, 7-6 in the other semi-final.

'It's going to be a tough match,' said Federer. 'Berdych is playing well himself. It's quick conditions and he can be a big threat in the finals like that.'

Final chance: Roger Federer eased past Janko Tipsarevic

Final chance: Roger Federer eased past Janko Tipsarevic

While both Rafael Nadal and top-ranked Novak Djokovic vowed to never again play on Madrid's new blue-clay court after early exits, Federer's more technical style has not been overly hampered by the surface many players have criticized as slippery.

Federer, who won Madrid in 2006 and 2009, shook off the late afternoon gusting winds to hit 25 winners and eight aces en route to the easy victory.

While dominating his service games, Federer moved Tipsarevic around the court with an expert mix of shots until he got a break to go ahead 3-1 when his low slice forced his opponent into netting.

Federer broke again to claim the first set by drawing an error from Tipsarevic with a forehand that clipped the sideline.

On the slide: Tipsarevic

On the slide: Tipsarevic

Tipsarevic, who had upset Djokovic on Friday, fell behind for good at 3-1 in the second set when he could barely graze Federer's crosscourt return.

Federer holds a 10-4 record against Berdych, but the Czech has won three of their last five meetings.

'(Berdych) got me in big matches in my career in Wimbledon and at the Olympics. I got him back at the same places,' Federer said. 'Still I remember those losses vividly. I think that we match up pretty well against each other because of the shot-making.'

Sunday will be the 30-year-old Federer's 104th final, where he will seek his 74th career title.

Up next: Tomas Berdych will provide a tough test

Up next: Tomas Berdych will provide a tough test

Earlier, the sixth-seeded Berdych, who hadn't won a set in his last three matches he lost to Del Potro, used his big serve to score 15 aces and overcome the Argentine's skilled baseline game.

'It was really just about one or two points that decided for my side,' said Berdych. 'It was really close. We fought for every point and I am really happy to have gone through.'

John Terry admits players to blame for Andre Villas-Boas sacking

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Blame us for AVB sacking! Terry admits players should take flak for dismissal

John Terry has admitted Chelsea's players need to 'hold their hands up' over the demise of Andre Villas-Boas.

The Blues are still coming to terms with the Sunday sacking of their manager, with captain Terry having broken his silence on the matter.

Player power was said to have been one of the factors in the downfall of Villas-Boas and captain Terry admitted Chelsea's squad needed to look in the mirror.

New man: John Terry (right) with interim manager Roberto Di Matteo

New man: John Terry (right) with interim manager Roberto Di Matteo

'Sad for Andre, because unfortunately it falls on his head, when I think the players would hold their hands up and say, “Clearly, we've not been good enough and we all made mistakes together”,' he told Chelsea TV.

'He's the man whose head's on the block and unfortunately goes.'

Terry made a shock recovery from knee surgery to earn a place in the squad for Tuesday night's FA Cup fifth-round replay at Birmingham.

The defender dedicated Chelsea's 2-0 win not only to caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo and assistant Eddie Newton, but also to Villas-Boas.

He said: 'We dug deep for him, for Robbie as well taking charge, Eddie coming in as well – it's nice to have familiar faces around who know the club.'

Comeback: Terry (right) has made a remarkable recovery from injury

Comeback: Terry (right) has made a remarkable recovery from injury

Terry added: 'We've done enough talking amongst ourselves over the last three or four months.

'Robbie came in and said those exact same things as well.

'He's been here, played here, the same as Eddie.

'We have to fight for the shirt and that was the message to the lads.'

Terry admitted the meltdown at Chelsea drove his incredible injury comeback as he revealed he was jogging again only two days after knee surgery.

The 31-year-old returned to the squad less than a fortnight after undergoing a procedure that was expected to sideline him until next month.

Sacked: Andre Villas-Boas paid the price for a string of poor results

Sacked: Andre Villas-Boas paid the price for a string of poor results

The Blues have badly missed Terry's leadership and defensive skills since he was first ruled out of action at the end of January and his early comeback is a huge boost to their hopes of salvaging their season.

He said: 'Once I had the operation, I was literally jogging about after two days, which was incredible.

'I said to the physios, the way things were here, I just wanted to push myself and be involved and try to get back as quickly as possible.

'I've done that, worked really hard in the gym, been on triple sessions going back late in the evening on my own as well – which has been tough.

'The target for myself was always to get back and hopefully be back for the Stoke game, so this is a massive boost for me.'

Harry Redknapp: Fitness key to Tottenham"s title challenge

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Redknapp: Fitness is key to Tottenham maintaining title challenge

Harry Redknapp accepts keeping his players fresh during the second half of the season will be vital to Tottenham”s chances of keeping their title hopes alive.

Spurs missed an opportunity to keep themselves in touch with leaders Manchester City last week when they drew with rivals Chelsea 1-1 at White Hart Lane.

The game provided a worry for Redknapp with Rafael van der Vaart substituted at half-time due to a hamstring injury, but a subsequent scan revealed no serious damage.

Fitness battle: Redknapp is wary of the need to keep his squad happy

Fitness battle: Redknapp is wary of the need to keep his squad happy

Aaron Lennon looks set to miss the festive period with a similar problem, though, and Jermain Defoe, Younes Kaboul and Ledley King are also doubts for the game against Norwich at Carrow Road.

Tottenham”s injury troubles threaten to halt their recent good form and Redknapp admits his players” fitness is his biggest priority for the rest of the term.

“Managing the squad and keeping them happy is probably my toughest challenge. It”s not easy,” the veteran boss said.

“Younes Kaboul did his hamstring warming up on the sideline against Chelsea. You wonder what causes it.

“But you”ve got to try to keep your players fit now. You need a squad, you need to be able to change your squad around to keep some players fresh.”

Tottenham will put the pressure back on both Manchester sides if they overcome Paul Lambert”s side tonight.

The promoted Canaries have defied their critics this year, climbing in to the top half of the table thanks to their impressive home form.

Hamstrung: Tottenham have been hampered by injuries in the run up to Christmas Hamstrung: Tottenham have been hampered by injuries in the run up to Christmas

Hamstrung: Tottenham have been hampered by injuries in the run up to Christmas

Despite appearing to be well clear of danger, Redknapp has warned that a poor run of form could see Norwich, and fellow newboys Swansea, follow the path of Hull and Blackpool, who started well after being promoted before dipping dramatically in the second half of the season, resulting in relegation.

“Norwich have done fantastically. They have done really well and Swansea have as well,” the 64-year-old said.

“But I”m sure they know that there have been lots of clubs come up and play very well first half of the season and they know they”ve got to continue that second half, for sure.

“It”s going to be tight at the bottom.”