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

May 1 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post

Despite the scoreline, Mowbray was impressed with Spurs at Old Trafford and said just because they were eventually beaten heavily doesn’t mean Albion will get an easy ride in the capital.

“They looked very good in the first half, they counter-attacked very well and looked a threat,” the Baggies boss said.

“They have some extremely talented players and yet United came out and made a few changes at half time and did what they can do to any team. You have to put it into context and it is hard to find an argument that they are not the best team in the world. On their day at home, and when their adrenalin levels are as high as they were in the second half chasing the game, it was very difficult for Spurs.

“And yet, after being 2-0 up and looking very comfortable in the first half, to have lost five goals was a blow.”

Spurs were submerged in a relegation dogfight earlier in the season and the arrival of Redknapp has transformed their fortunes from strugglers to a side that could pinch seventh place.

Albion beat Spurs 2-0 in December, just after Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos, but the former Portsmouth boss has used his Midas touch, aided by substantial transfer funds, to turn around their season and Mowbray is an admirer of the job he has done.

“Harry is a very experienced manager and wherever he manages he seems to get the job done,” Mowbray said.

“You can’t do anything but praise Harry for the job he has done at Tottenham, but I am pretty sure he will see next season as being his biggest test.

“Will Tottenham be able to try to get as close as they can to the top four, as they did under Martin Jol? We will see.”

Albion will be without midfielder James Morrison, who has a heel problem, and defender Abdoulaye Meite, who has tweaked a hamstring.