Spurs showed true grit - Redknapp

Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham have developed a mental toughness following the 2-0 win at Blackburn as they bid to secure a top-four finish.

Peter Crouch got both goals in the 2-0 victory against Blackburn at Ewood Park to keep the pressure on the leaders.

Redknapp said: "It was not a pretty game but one Tottenham may have lost in the past.

"It was a great result for us. It was a tough match but we have collected three points and kept a clean sheet away from home. I have to be pleased with that.

"It was not free-flowing football like it was in midweek against Manchester City. However we were solid at the back and the goalkeeper did well for us. "

Crouch made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage-time when he headed home following a cross from Niko Kranjcar, who chased a lost cause before delivering the ball into the box.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, marking his first year in charge, rounded on referee Peter Walton for allowing the goal.

Allardyce said: "It is a foul on Ryan Nelsen. He has wrestled him to the floor and thrown his arms around him. The referee is in a good position but doesn't give it.

"We were also 90 seconds into injury-time and only one minute had been put up. So instead of being comfortable in the first half and coming in at 0-0 we have been let down by the referee once again.

"We do not like it when the referee messes up but there is little we can do about it."

Crouch sewed the match up in the 82nd minute with a cool finish following good work from substitutes Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane.

It was Tottenham's second victory of the week after they defeated City and came in the wake of revelations the players had held a secret Christmas party.

Redknapp said: "We have a good group of lads and I do not have any problems with them.

"Crouchy got two good goals and deserved to get on the scoresheet. He works hard for the team.

"I thought we were fortunate to be 1-0 up at half-time but Jenas gave us a lot of energy when he came on and Robbie also hand a hand in the second goal, so it was a good day for us."

Blackburn could find themselves in a relegation scrap for a second successive season and Allardyce was left cursing his luck after Benni McCarthy's effort came back off the post.

Allardyce said: "I would say 99 times out of 100 he would have scored but the goalkeeper has got something on it and it has hit the post.

"As hard as we tried after that we couldn't find another opening. It is one of our problems. We changed the system to go more attacking but Crouchy finished us off.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the result and getting no reward after doing a great job on one of the most attack-minded sides in the league."