Published: 8 March, 2012
by DAN CARRIER

SPURS boss Harry Redknapp spoke of his relief after his side booked a spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals last night (Wednesday) – but warned his charges not to take their eyes off Champions League qualification.

He said: “We want Champions League football – and we want to win the FA Cup. The league is very important and we do not want to waste the opportunity we have given ourselves this term. We want to finish the job and not be distracted.”

Spurs suffered an early shock when Stevenage won and converted a penalty after three minutes.

But a wonder strike from Jermain Defoe brought the home side level and when Gareth Bale was upended in the box soon after the second half started, Emmanuel Adebayor scored from the spot and it became more comfortable for the Premier League club.

Defoe finished the match off as a contest midway through the second half with another well-placed effort to set up a home tie against Bolton in a fortnight.

But Redknapp played down the prospects of a glorious end to the season. He said: “It will not be easy. There are some very good sides left in the Cup and we have tough league games coming up.”

And he admitted that Stevenage had been strong opponents.

He said: “It was a difficult game, just what we expected.

People had said we should smash them five or six, but I thought, ‘not a chance’.”

He praised Defoe, who has had few chances this term to start. Redknapp said: “Jermain looked very, very sharp tonight, he took his goals very well and that is very good for us.

“It is always difficult to leave anybody out, and, when he plays, he looks in form, and that can only be good news for the run-in.”

Spurs were also counting the physical cost of the match with a tough season finale ahead.

Michael Dawson, who went off in the opening period, has what Redknapp described as a “long-term injury”, while Aaron Lennon pulled a hamstring.