Latest rumours from the Lane…

Matt Upson is a player Harry Redknapp is very keen on. He had an enquiry rebuffed in January but will be going back with a further approach in the summer. Although the Tottenham defence is solid, Redknapp believes he still needs another top class centre half especially if his side make it into Europe next season.

Carlo Cudicini is unhappy with his current position at the club and had a recent training ground bust up with Kevin Bond. When he signed, he was lead to believe he would see a decent amount of first team action but this hasn’t been the case.

Both Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko are free to leave the club in the summer. Redknapp has told the board he is happy to listen to offers for both players but nobody at Spurs is holding out much hope of recouping anywhere near the transfer fee paid for either of them.

Miss Spur x

Can be a very useful asset at White Hart Lane. Luka Modric was spectacular last night, again looking worth every penny of that £16.5m we paid. He looks a lot more effective at the Lane where he probably gets more time on the ball and more freedom but there are no two ways about it, he’s quality.

Obviously, Stoke at home is a game we should be winning comfortably but considering the position we are in currently, the pressure on the players last night was huge. They all stepped up and put in what is probably our best performance of the season so far.

Carlo Cudicini look assured in goal on his debut. The fact he’s played very little first team football in recent times really didn’t show. Dawson and Woodgate are developing a good understanding together and although Ledley is sorely missed, I have much more confidence in this partnership now than I did early season.

Aaron Lennon was busy as usual and took his chance very well indeed. Bentley also had one of his best games in a Spurs shirt. I hope Harry keeps him on the right flank from now on because that’s where all his best performances for us have been. I may have been a little hard on him when playing out of position.

As solid as always was Corluka. I can’t rave about him enough, an absolute snip at £8.5m. The front two played well, Defoe with his goal and Pavlyuchenko often dangerous. I hope he continues to play this well once the temperature rises. Even Akotto and Zokora were largely mistake free.

I loved Harry’s tactic of bringing Huddlestone on in injury time to run the clock down because it takes the fat mug five minutes to bumble his way onto the pitch. Maybe he is good for something after all.

Poor old Gareth Bale, another game he doesn’t start and we win. It’s getting to be more than just a coincidence now!

The hard work isn’t over but the result lifts us to 13th in the table and psychologically I think that’s a big deal. Bolton away on Saturday will be a much sterner test but with Palacios and Chimbonda waiting in the wings, things are starting to look a lot brighter. Let’s hope the players continue this work ethic and stick enough points on the board for us to stop panicking, and then we can just enjoy our day at Wembley.