Tottenham’s topsy-turvy fortnight could have cost them both Champions League and FA Cup glory. But there are Spurs fans who would exchange that for Wednesday’s near-destruction of bitter North London rivals Arsenal’s EPL title hopes.

Tottenham, quite literally, slipped up in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Portsmouth on a Wembley pitch described by Lilywhites boss Harry Redknapp as a “disgrace.”

Centre-back Michael Dawson lost his footing during the first half of extra-time to allow Frederic Piquionne to put the cash-strapped South Coast outfit ahead.

 

And lost amid the “magic of the FA Cup” stories was Portsmouth’s good fortune moments later when Peter Crouch netted for Spurs, only for referee Alan Wiley to penalise Niko Krancjar for a foul on David James.

The Portsmouth goalkeeper’s knowing smile after the decision was caught in close-up on camera and spoke volumes.

But, given the context of the game, sympathy for Spurs was nil, even when Wiley erroneously awarded a penalty to Pompey in the dying minutes, Kevin Prince-Boateng consigning his former club to an unexpected 2-0 defeat from the spot.

Redknapp was gracious to Portsmouth, his former club, in defeat. But he was less gracious about the Wembley pitch. “I won’t use it as an excuse, as it was the same for both teams,” Redknapp said after the game.

But he added: “It’s a disgrace. How can you play on a pitch you can’t stand up on? You have to spend the whole time making sure you don’t fall over. That can’t be right”

The pitch at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light eight days previously was certainly no excuse as Spurs fell victim to another blast from their recent past.

Striker Darren Bent drew unflattering “my missus could have scored that” comments from Redknapp last season, despite finishing as Spurs top-scorer.

He exacted fulsome revenge with two early goals as Spurs fell to a 3-1 defeat. Bent would have had at least a hat-trick, had keeper Heurelho Gomes not made two stunning penalty saves, making it three penalty saves from Bent this season.

Peter Crouch gave Spurs fleeting comeback hopes, which were rightly extinguished by substitute Bolo Zenden stunning volleyed third goal.

And speaking of stunning volleys, EPL debutant Danny Rose set Spurs on their way to partial redemption with his thirty-yard screamer ten minutes into the Arsenal game.

Gareth Bale made it two-nil moments after half-time with his first EPL goal of the season before a late Arsenal rally brought the very best out of Gomes at the other end.

The much-maligned Brazilian custodian was only beaten once, enabling Spurs to complete their first EPL win over Arsenal since November 1999 and move to within one point of fourth-placed Manchester City.

Spurs face an even more difficult task this Saturday evening when they host EPL leaders Chelsea. And they will be without Aaron Lennon again, as the England winger broke down in training on Monday.

Redknapp commented: “He came out of training a bit sore. We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed.