Harry Redknapp has revealed the reason he started Wednesday evening’s Carling Cup quarter-final win over Watford without Darren Bent up front; because he felt the striker’s performance levels had dropped.
Bent came off the bench with 25 minutes of the tie at Vicarage Road to play and Spurs drawing 1-1 with The Hornets, and fired the winner as he tallied his 12th strike of the season.
Redknapp feels however that until that goal Bent had not been giving his maximum of late, something which led to a five-game streak without a goal before his effort on Wednesday.
“I left him out because he has not been playing as well as he was doing,” said Redknapp.
“I felt Darren had taken his foot off the pedal. I told him that on the touchline last night and said he needed to get out there and do his stuff. He responded perfectly.”
With Spurs now in the draw for the semi finals of the competition Redknapp is one step closer to a return to Wembley, where he won The FA Cup with Portsmouth in May and where Spurs claimed the Carling Cup in February.
However, with progression to the next stage secured, Redknapp feels he can turn his side’s focus back to the league.
“Of course it would be great to return and the players feel the same,” he said.
“For the moment now we can put this on the backburner and need to worry about getting points in the league. That has always been the main priority given the position we were in.
“This club hardly got a point last season after winning the cup so we all have to be aware of that.
“I thought we played well and battered Watford after they had scored.”