Spurs revival to be tested at north London derby

Harry Redknapp did not take long to cast his spell over Tottenham Hotspur.

Less than 24 hours after assuming charge on Sunday morning, the 61-year-old had delivered more than his predecessor Juande Ramos had managed all season – a league win – and breathed new life into a club which had been threatening to sleepwalk into disaster.

Former Portsmouth boss Redknapp has been involved in English football too long to become giddy at Sunday's 2-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers. A new manager invariably serves as a perfect pick-me-up for a struggling side and there is never a guarantee that the euphoria will last.

Old habits which are expunged in an attempt to impress the new man can creep back in an instant and Redknapp will be watching his team closely as they prepare for two arduous games — at Arsenal on Wednesday and at home to Liverpool – in four days.

Nevertheless, Tottenham's players do seem genuinely uplifted by Redknapp's appointment. The same squad that looked directionless, indisciplined and utterly bereft of confidence under Ramos, making the club's worst ever start to a league season by collecting just two points from eight games, had a renewed pep and purpose against Bolton.

Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a much-needed goal, his first in the league since a 13.8 million pounds pre-season move from Spartak Moscow, David Bentley looked something like his old self after being reinstated to the starting line-up by Redknapp and Spurs even made it through a whole match without having a man sent off – a notable feat in itself given three had been dismissed in their previous two games.

“It is brilliant to have an English manager,” Ledley King, the Spurs defender, said. “It has been a while and I am looking forward to the relationship. Harry spoke to us for the first time on the morning of the game, and he gave us confidence. He said we had brilliant players in the team, and that he believed we could get out of this situation.

“It looked like a weight had been lifted off the players' shoulders. They played with freedom, and it was more like the old Tottenham.”

The challenge now is to replicate that impressive showing at their great rivals Arsenal.

A week ago, the thought of a visit to the Emirates would have brought most Tottenham fans out in cold sweats; now, for all that Spurs remain anchored to the bottom of the league, they can dare to dream of a first away win against their north London neighbours since 1993.

For that, King's contribution will be crucial. The former England centre-half is still hobbled by a persistent knee injury that prevents him training more than three times a week but Redknapp, having asked him to play a second game in four days against Bolton, is likely to consider him indispensable for the short trip across the capital.

“I felt I could (play two games in succession). Until you do it, you don't know, but now it's done, hopefully people will stop talking about it,” he added. “It is important not to get carried away, and I am not about to try to play every game just yet.

“Will I be able to play at Arsenal on Wednesday? We'll see.”

It is unusual for Arsenal not to be the focus of attention in the build-up to a north London derby but Arsene Wenger, the club's manager, may prefer it that way.

The Gunners have quietly but effectively rebuilt their confidence after a shocking home defeat to Hull City, chalking up consecutive league wins and thrashing Fenerbahce in the Champions League.

They remain just four points adrift of Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, and there is little chance of Arsenal being distracted by the tumult five miles up the Seven Sisters Road.

“I don't know and honestly I don't really care what's happening at Spurs,” Robin van Persie, the striker, said. “We have our own team and we play whoever shows up. I am aware of their new manager so we will see what happens. But the game against Tottenham is one on its own, it doesn't matter where they stand.”