Tottenham Hotspur's style enough for Mowbray to be getting on with

May 1 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post

Tottenham Hotspur may be smarting from their disappointing defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford last weekend but West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray believes his side have enough to worry about without stressing over a Spurs backlash.

Spurs were 2-0 up and flying in the first half until referee Howard Webb awarded a controversial penalty which kick-started United’s recovery and Harry Redknapp’s side eventually went down 5-2.

Redknapp was enraged by the decision and Spurs will no doubt be looking to exorcise their demons at White Hart Lane against the basement side.

However, Mowbray is more concerned about the quality Spurs possess on the pitch rather than their mental state.

“The major factor will be the quality footballers they possess,” Mowbray said.

“Regardless of whether they are smarting or desperately fighting for seventh place, or whether they are just looking to see the season out, whatever their attitude they have some fantastic quality footballers who can play and pass, and hurt you.

“It has to be a day when things have to roll for us. We have to play extremely well and we have to try to score goals against them because it is very hard to keep out a team that has Pavlichenko, Bent, Keane, Lennon, Modric and Jenas.

“They are all great players and if we can go there and play our football, like we did at Manchester City, and hope things go our way with referee decisions and lucky breaks, and if we can concentrate and do our job, then we hope to give them problems.”