Harry reveals half-time blast

Spurs boss unhappy with first-half display against Burnley

Last updated: 6th January 2009

Harry reveals half-time blast

Redknapp: Unhappy with first half

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Harry Redknapp admits he had to 'get in' to his Tottenham Hotspur players at half-time in the 4-1 win over Burnley.

Spurs produced a lacklustre first-half display in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at White Hart Lane and trailed to Martin Paterson's goal.

An interval blast from Redknapp, coupled with the introduction of Jamie O'Hara, turned the tie in Spurs' favour to put the holders on course for another Wembley appearance.

Redknapp was disappointed with his team's efforts in the opening 45 minutes and also praised Burnley, who have already knocked out three Premier League clubs this season.

Different team

"I was impressed with them tonight," Redknapp told Sky Sports. "I thought they were terrific. In the first half they were fantastic.

"They played five in midfield, they broke, they passed the ball great and they passed it better than us.

"At half-time you couldn't see that result coming and nor could I, but at half-time I had to get in to them big time and sort a few of them out really because I was disappointed with that first half.

"In the second half we came out a different team. We pressed them, we put them under pressure, we closed them down, we played, we passed it, we moved off the ball and we were a different team.

"We've got to play like that all the time, we can't play like we did in the first half, but in the end it was a great result."

Michael Dawson equalised for Spurs within two minutes of the restart and Redknapp acknowledged the lift the centre-half's goal provided to the players and fans.

Much better

He added: "It was nice to get that early goal. It gave us the lift we needed and it gave the crowd a lift.

"The first half was disappointing, we really were poor and they were better than us, there was no doubt about it.

"You can see why they have done so well. They were well organised, they passed the ball, they had a good shape about them. They only played one up front, but they joined in and he worked his socks off the little guy (Paterson) up front for them.

"I said at half-time that we were too deep and we needed to compress the play and squeeze from the back because our midfield couldn't make contact with them because we were so stretched and made the pitch far too big when we never had the ball.

"We squeezed them in the second half, got in contact with them and put them under pressure, and we played from there. We were much better in the second half."