Jamie Redknapp has claimed Tottenham will be ‘relieved’ to have survived a Carabao Cup scare against Coventry City, but claimed boss Ange Postecoglou ‘took liberties’ with his team selection.
Coventry had threatened to dump Tottenham out in the third round with Brandon Thomas-Asante having given the Championship side a deserved lead in the 63rd minute.
A much changed Spurs side turned the match around in the closing stages, with substitute Djed Spence drawing them level in the 88th minute.
Brennan Johnson raced through and finished two minutes into stoppage time to complete the comeback, with Tottenham avoiding an early exit.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp claimed Postecoglou almost had a look of embarrassment at full-time with his side advancing despite having been second best at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
Brennan Johnson’s late goal saw Tottenham survive a Carabao Cup scare against Coventry
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed Spurs will be ‘relieved’ following the comeback
Redknapp claimed Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou almost looked embarrassed at full time
‘They were so poor, going nowhere fast until the goals. Up until then, you look at what Mark Robins did [scoring for Man United], we might look back at this goal as something similar and that’s kept them in it,’ Redknapp said.
‘There was almost a look of embarrassment from Ange at full-time. They will be mightily relieved.
‘They will be sat in the dressing room thinking “How on earth have we got away with that?” Coventry were the better side and he will be so relieved. They’ve got to make sure it is a turning point for them.’
The result ultimately eases some pressure on Postecoglou after a difficult start to the season, with Tottenham having picked up just four points from their opening four Premier League matches.
Postecoglou had heavily rotated his side for third round clash, making eight changes for the match against the Championship side.
Redknapp questioned the team selection, suggesting Postecoglou had not learned from Tottenham being knocked out by Fulham in the second round last season.
Postecoglou had made nine changes against Fulham last year, with Spurs ultimately crashing out on penalties after a disjointed performance.
‘I didn’t like the team he picked. He took liberties. I thought he would’ve learned from Fulham last season but he didn’t pick a strong enough team. But he’s got away with that one,’ Redknapp added.
‘You can tell they have a lack of confidence right now. They didn’t pass the ball well enough and they let Coventry creep into the game.
Redknapp claimed Postecoglou ‘took liberties’ with his team selection against Coventry
Tottenham remain in the Carabao Cup as they bid to end their 16-year trophy drought
‘I do struggle when managers leave out these big name players – I don’t know why they don’t start the likes of Son and then bring them off when you’re winning.
This was always going to be a tough game and a potential banana skin because of what Coventry have done in recent years. The team he’s picked has given them a problem and they were very, very fortunate.’
Tottenham had come into the Carabao Cup tie with Coventry fresh from Postecoglou’s bold statement that he always wins things in his second season at a club.
The Spurs boss admitted he would have failed if he fails to end the club’s 16-year trophy drought, which stretches back to the last time they lifted the League Cup back in 2008.
