Tottenham relishing title pressure

Tottenham will thrive under the pressure of challenging at the top of the table, according to striker Jermain Defoe.

Defoe scored the only goal as Spurs beat West Brom at White Hart Lane on Tuesday to stay in touch with league leaders Manchester City, whom they trail by six points with a game in hand.

“That result on Tuesday shows that we are well and truly in the title race,” Defoe told the Daily Mirror.

“The lads showed so much character to keep going when West Brom made it so hard for us.”

“City and (Manchester) United know we are a threat, and with every game that we keep on winning we can put pressure on them to keep winning.”

Defoe added that the extra intensity of a title challenge was keeping him sharp and made him even more desperate to deliver in front of the Tottenham supporters.

“I’m loving the pressure,” he said. “It’s like playing tournament football for England, when everyone is pinning their hopes on you to make the breakthrough.”

“It means I have to make sure my preparation is right, that my attitude is right. Because I know how much it means to so many people.”

“Everyone saw the tension at our place on Tuesday. The way that the fans, my team-mates and the manager and his staff celebrated when I got that goal and I enjoy being able to make that happen.”

The Spurs team, Defoe insisted, would thrive under the pressure of competing for the club’s first ever Premier League title.

“We don’t feel negative pressure,” he said. “We are enjoying it.”

“But at the same time we know that it may not come again in the way that it has. This is such a good opportunity for us. We want to take it with both hands.”