Redknapp: I dont blame strikers for Spurs’ lack of league goals

Spurs have scored fewer league goals than Bolton, Fulham, Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool so far this season, but Harry Redknapp is loathe to blame his forwards.

HARRY Redknapp insists that he does not blame his strikers for Tottenham’s lack of league goals so far this season, as the Lilywhites prepare for the trip to Bolton.

While Spurs have netted 18 goals in just six Champions League matches, they have struggled domestically, scoring just 11 times in their 10 league fixtures.

That is a massive 16 goals less than league leaders Chelsea, while Bolton, Fulham, Newcastle, West Bromwich Albion and even Blackpool all have a better goal tally.

Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko were both on target against Inter Milan on Tuesday night, but it has been a different story in the league.

Robbie Keane, Crouch and Pavlyuchenko were all involved in the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Spurs’ forwards all failing to score for the seventh league match of the campaign.

“Robbie’s not had a lot of chances to play to be fair. It’s hard to pin Robbie with not scoring, he hasn’t played enough games,” said Redknapp. “He had a great pre-season and scored some goals and then he’s not had an awful lot of starts.

“Peter’s made goals. If you look at [Rafael] Van der Vaart’s goals they’ve nearly all come off of Crouchy, with Crouchy playing balls down for Van der Vaart to finish.

“Crouchy’s played more than his share but he’s part of everything we’ve done, and he’s had a great spell in Europe, his goals have kept us where we are in that competition really. And again Pav has scored a few goals when he’s played.

“I’ve got three strikers and they’ve rotated pretty much. Crouchy has probably had the most games and, although he hasn’t scored in the league, I still feel he’s played a good part for us.”

While Crouch has scored five goals in the Champions League, he is yet to score a league goal this season, despite playing 10 games.

Keane, who started at Old Trafford, scored in the Carling Cup defeat against Arsenal but has also failed to register in the league.

That leaves Roman Pavlyuchenko as the only Spurs striker who has netted a league goal this season, the Russian finding the net against Wolves and Fulham and adding three goals in Europe.

Tottenham hope to welcome Jermain Defoe back from his ankle injury later this month. Redknapp refuses to be drawn on when the 28-year-old will return, but the striker is targeting the north London derby on November 20, or the clash with Werder Bremen four days later.