By Simon Jackson SPURS skipper Ledley King says he wants to see White Hart Lane return to the fortress it once was after Sunday s disappointing loss to Everton at the Lane. The defeat – the first at home since the arrival of manager Harry Redknapp five w

By Simon Jackson

SPURS skipper Ledley King says he wants to see White Hart Lane return to the fortress it once was after Sunday's disappointing loss to Everton at the Lane.

The defeat - the first at home since the arrival of manager Harry Redknapp five weeks ago - was the Lilywhites' second loss in their past three Premier League games.

But, more importantly, the latest defeat pushed Tottenham back into trouble at the foot of the Premier League table.

After lifting themselves out of the relegation zone by taking 10 points from a possible 12 under new manager Redknapp, Spurs now sit just two places above the drop zone, and are currently only avoiding a spot in the bottom three on goal difference - they share the same number of points as both Newcastle and Sunderland.

"Over the years teams have found it tough to win here," King told Ham&High Sport after Steven Pienaar's 51st minute goal secured all three points for Everton on Sunday.

"In the last season and so far this season we have slipped off the boil at home. We are slowly trying to build back and make this a fortress."

The Lilywhites had previously been a force to be reckoned with at the Lane, and three years ago lost just two home league games during a scintillating campaign.

That season the north London outfit finished fifth on 65 points after winning 18 matches and drawing 11 in the league.

The Lilywhites followed that with another fifth placed finish the following season - taking 60 points with 17 wins and nine draws during a campaign that saw them beaten just five times at home in the league.

King, Tottenham's longest serving player with 253 appearances since making his first team debut away to Liverpool in May 1999, believes that it is vital that his men fight for every point - home or away.

"We can't let our focus slip off the league and how important it is to pick up as many points as we can," he said.

"Every time we lose a game it is a wake up call for us and a reminder how much work has still got to be done. We went on a good run and we have not really gone too far so it shows."

And the talismanic skipper believes it is vital that the Lilywhites continue to build on the massive boost of confidence inspired by Redknapp's arrival.

"The confidence [after Redknapp's arrival in October] was there and the players truly believed that [Europe remains a possibility].

"There are still a lot of games to be played this season and we were brimming with confidence.

"But as I said there is a long way to go and if we are not focused and at our best we will get beaten like we did today.