GARETH Bale admits that Tottenham face a tough task in overcoming their worst start to a Premier League campaign after being held to a goalless draw by Wigan at the Lane on Sunday. The lacklustre draw continues the Lilywhites dreadful start to the league

GARETH Bale admits that Tottenham face a tough task in overcoming their worst start to a Premier League campaign after being held to a goalless draw by Wigan at the Lane on Sunday.

The lacklustre draw continues the Lilywhites dreadful start to the league season that has seen them amass just two points from their first five league games.

But Bale, who has played in all five matches this term after missing the latter half of last season through injury, and was in fine form in the 2-1 Carling Cup victory at Newcastle, remains confident that Tottenham can achieve their ambition of at least a top six place this campaign.

And the 20-year-old has called on his team-mates to kick-start their season with a win at Portsmouth on Sunday.

"It's only early in the season - there are a lot of games left," Bale told Ham&High Sport.

"There are 33 games to go so we will just try our best and keep pushing up the table and hopefully you never know we will get to that spot. Obviously, every team wants to get a win and start well but it's not happening for us at the moment.

"So we will just have to go back on to the training pitch and work on stuff and hopefully we will get it right for Sunday."

Bale, a Welsh International, wasted no time in forcing his way into Spurs' first team since signing from Southampton last year. He made his Spurs debut at Manchester United in August that year.

But Bale, who has 12 full caps for his country, was sidelined with a foot injury in December which meant he missed that second half of the season, including Spurs' memorable Carling Cup victory over Chelsea at Wembley.

The Cardiff-born defender's versatility has been apparent since his return and against Wigan was required to play on the left of midfield but is primarily pleased to be on the pitch as the new-look squad are moulded.

"To be honest, after being out for a while, I am just happy to be playing," he said.

"I will give my all everywhere I play. It wasn't the result we hoped for - we hoped for a win - but it was a difficult game.

"Wigan played well and kept it tight at the back so I think we just have to work on our weaker points and hopefully get stronger.

"We've had a lot of games. We played on Monday, Thursday and Sunday and I think a lot of the lads are quite tired so it is just a case of using the squad to the best of its ability.

"I think we just want to win games and get fresh legs out there if people are tired and we all want do a job for the team and the club.

"As I say, as a team we just need to try and stick together and just play our own game and I think we will come away with some results.

"There are quite a lot of new players and it takes time to gel.

"We need to gel as quickly as we can and hopefully group up as a team and grind out some results.

"We face another difficult game at Portsmouth. We will go there and try our best. We will try to play well, score goals and hopefully come away with a win.

"At the moment we are not producing the goals so we need to create chances and just play our own football - in the end it will come good."

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