Redknapp´s Tottenham eye top-four finish

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes his side are ready to nail down a place in the Premier League’s top four after making their best start to a season for 49 years.

Aaron Lennon’s late strike at West Ham on Sunday sealed a 2-1 victory that extended Tottenham’s winning run to three matches and put them top of the table.

It is the fastest opening to a league campaign from a Spurs team since the 1960-61 side that won the league and FA Cup double.

Redknapp refused to compare his current crop to Bill Nicholson’s celebrated team, but he feels his side have a chance of creating their own history and pushing for a place in the Champions League.

“Nine points is a great start for us,” Redknapp said. “But I wouldn’t even compare ourselves to the ’61 or ’62 team. That was an amazing football team.

“They had Bill Nicholson as manager, Dave Mackay and Danny Blanchflower playing for them. Dave Mackay was like three men, not one.

“We’ve got some good players, but they had a great team and were fantastic. That was a special time in the club’s history, a long time ago. If we are anywhere as good as them, we’ll be okay.

“Who knows what we can achieve? I’m not saying we’ll finish in the top four, but we have good quality and we’ll give it a go.

“It could be open this year. Manchester City will certainly be pushing to be a top-four team, and there’s no reason we can’t push.

“We’ve won two away games already. If our home form stands up, we’ll be right up there.”

Redknapp’s men had to come from a goal behind after Carlton Cole unleashed a 25-yard volley which crashed past Carlo Cudicini four minutes after the break.

Cole turned from hero to villain five minutes later when his backpass led to Jermain Defoe levelling, a sweet goal for the former Hammers striker who was jeered by the home fans.

The winner came 11 minutes from time after Jonathan Spector’s slip allowed Lennon to cut inside and drive past Robert Green.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is desperate to give Cole support in attack and still wants to bring in Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux

But Zola said: “I don’t think West Ham are his only potential destination. There are a few teams after him.”

It is believed that money from selling defender James Collins, possibly to Stoke, would allow the Chamakh deal to go through.

“There’s an interest in him (Collins) from another team, but that’s all I know,” Zola said.

“In defence we have eight players I can choose from. In attack, I can only choose Carlton Cole or myself. We have two young players who are doing well, but they need time.”

Zola’s side were also dealing with the shock of hearing defender Calum Davenport was in intensive care after being stabbed in both legs.

“We’re very sorry about what happened,” he said. “The situation will be clearer in the next few days. Now it’s just important that he’s all right.

“We didn’t believe it when we heard. You don’t expect things like this to happen, especially to people you know.”