JONATHAN Woodgate this week warned his under-performing Tottenham team-mates – wake up or face the axe. Spurs, who capitulated 4-1 to resurgent Newcastle at the Lane on Sunday, travel to Uefa Cup contenders Blackburn tomorrow and Woodgate says defeat is n

JONATHAN Woodgate this week warned his under-performing Tottenham team-mates - wake up or face the axe.

Spurs, who capitulated 4-1 to resurgent Newcastle at the Lane on Sunday, travel to Uefa Cup contenders Blackburn tomorrow and Woodgate says defeat is not an option.

"We need to go to Blackburn and win - not look to draw," the England centre-half told Wood&Vale Sport.

"Rovers are going for Europe and fighting on that front. I wish we were going for Europe because maybe that would give a few of the players a kick up the behind."

The Lilywhites have won just two of their six Premier League games since lifting the Carling Cup in February at Wembley and coach Juande Ramos has demanded an improvement this weekend.

"We are all playing for places in the team, no matter how long you are under contract for, where you've been before or how long you have been at the club for," said Woodgate, an £8million signing from Middlesbrough in the January transfer window.

"The manager will make changes, no problem. He's your friend and manager but he will make changes to suit the club. No one is safe in football - apart from Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We're going to have to respond, aren't we. Our defeat at Manchester City was supposed to be a kick up the backside but we have not learned.

"Just because we can't get relegated and can't really go further forward does not mean we can put in performances like the Newcastle one. We need to be professional and work as hard as we can. We still have to perform week in, week out.

"Every game is a test of character when you play for a team of Tottenham's stature."

Spurs are already assured of the place in the Uefa Cup next season following their Carling Cup win and Ramos is expected to make major changes in the summer with a clearout of the underachievers and dead wood.

Indeed, the manager seems to have already started the culling process with Aaron Lennon set to be the first high profile casualty. Ramos has been disappointed with Lennon's attitude and was on the bench on Sunday.

l Spurs will visit Rotterdam in early August to play two pre-season games as part of the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament.

pat.mooney@hamhigh.co