Redknapp revels in big win

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Harry Redknapp was full of praise for his Tottenham players, after they mauled Wigan 9-1.

Jermain Defoe hit five goals in the rout, with other goals coming courtesy of Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar and a Chris Kirkland own goal.

And the Spurs manager was ecstatic with the performance of his team, whilst he also had praise for Jermain Defoe as well.

“The whole team, everybody worked and played well and for Jermain to go and get five goals was a real outstanding performance.

“He’s looked like that yesterday in training, the day before in training, he looks so sharp that I just thought if he can carry that into the game, he’s going to be a real handful today for their back four.

“All the strikers have been in great form. Robbie’s had a four this year, now Jermain’s had five, Crouchy’s had a three. So it’s nice to have your strikers all scoring goals.

Wigan were threatening to make a comeback at the end of the first half, with the score at 1-0, but a superb second half performance saw Spurs obliterate the Latics.

“Second half we took some great goals. We started the game well, scored early on, Peter crouch scored and I felt we started really bright.

“We had 23 minutes or so where we really got after them and made lots of good chances.

“Then they came in the game in the last 20 minutes of the half and started to play – I came in at half time and said we’ve got to get back and start the way we started the game.

“We decided to press them and work them and we stepped off that for 20 minutes at the end of the first half, but we came out second half and got back to doing that again.

“You don’t get too many nines in the Premier League. I feel genuinely, I have got so much time and respect for their manager, I think he is a fantastic young manager.

“The work he did at Swansea and what he’s carried on at Wigan and the way he gets his teams to play – I think he’s going right to the top.

“It’s a bad day for him, but he’ll come back from that even stronger, he’ll learn a lot about his team and everything today and I’m sure next week they’ll take it out on somebody else.”

Redknapp also had praise for his wingers, Lennon and Kranjcar who impressed after Redknapp ditched his diamond formation attempt.

“Lennon is a fantastic talent. Eric Edman was a good player at Tottenham, did a great job here and he is a good player, but he had a difficult day today with Aaron.

“But anybody would have had a hard day today when he’s in that type of form.

“Niko Kranjcar on the other side was absolutely fantastic as well today. I felt the skill, the ability, the passing, everything he did today. He deserved that goal at the end because I thought he was magnificent.”

Redknapp also had some words of encouragement for beleagured opposition goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, despite seeing the ball flash past him nine times.

“He made some great saves today, the one he tipped onto the bar in the first half was an incredible save.

“There was nothing he could do about it. he’s a top class goalie, it was just shots going in today were unstoppable.”

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