Gareth Southgate insists he will not be "sucked in" by Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp's claims his squad is depleted by injury and fatigue.Spurs and Middlesbrough meet at White Hart Lane on Wednesday and Redknapp has said Southgate's Boro players should be delighted to face a side still recovering from Sunday's Carling Cup final defeat to Manchester United following extra time and penalties.
Boro head into the game having beaten title hopefuls Liverpool at the weekend but Southgate will take Redknapp's comments with a pinch of salt and is refusing to write off Spurs' chances.
"I read what Harry said but we won't be getting sucked into what he was going on about," said Southgate.
"In any case, we've looked at the players Spurs have got available and there's a lot of them. They've got a large squad with strength in depth.
"And they've got players like (Robbie) Keane,
(Jonathan) Woodgate, (Pascal) Chimbonda, (Wilson) Palacios and (Carlo) Cudicini who did not take any part in the cup final.
"So Harry will be able to put a good team out and one which will have a lot of fresh legs.
"We will be ready for a hard game. If we are to get anything there we will have to be at our very best.
"It's a big game for Spurs just as it is for us."
The shock defeat of Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium was Boro's first league win in 15 games - an indication of how badly they have struggled since the end of last year.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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United visit Newcastle on Wednesday night knowing they would need to lose four of their remaining 12 matches to open the door to one of their major rivals.
It seems unlikely but as Ferguson knows only too well - and as Barcelona are currently experiencing in Spain - seemingly impregnable advantages can soon be reduced.
The Red Devils chief is taking nothing for granted. However, he has enough experience in his dressing room to count on his players keeping their nerve if the unexpected does occur.
"The experience we have garnered over the years helps us," said Ferguson.
"We don't panic. We very seldom have. Even in games we always keep playing our football and remain patient.
"Matches at Stoke and Bolton have been won like that this season. It is not an easy (thing) to do when you are chasing titles."
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