Redknapp defends decision to rest stars

Soccer: Harry Redknapp defended his decision to rest several first-team stars as Tottenham were left facing almost certain Europa League elimination by a 2-1 defeat to 10-man PAOK Salonika.

Redknapp made nine changes to the team that beat West Brom at the weekend, with only Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe keeping their places.

Notable names like Scott Parker, Gareth Bale and Emmanuel Adebayor were absent from the Tottenham line-up as the club's fringe players were given a chance to impress ahead of Saturday's clash against Bolton.

They failed to deliver, however, and Spurs conceded early goals to Dimitris Salpingidis and Stefanos Athanasiadis thanks to sloppy marking before Luka Modric, returning to the side after illness, pulled one back from the penalty spot after Konstantinos Stafylidis was dismissed for handball on the line late in the first half.

The London club now have only a slim chance of making the last 32 of the competition, but Redknapp insists playing youngsters and fringe players has been worthwhile this season as it has allowed his team to maintain the excellent league form which has seen them move to third in the table.

"It was a different team and it is hard when you make a lot of changes," Redknapp said. "Look at what happened to Manchester United (who lost to Crystal Palace last night with a weakened team). They lost. It happens all the time.

"We have been lucky so far and the important thing is that we have the players fresh for the Premier League at the weekend. We have changed the team in this competition and that is why we have done so well in the league, where we have won nine and drawn one in our last 10 games.

"If we had Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovani Dos Santos fit, we would not have played Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe or Aaron Lennon."

Spurs must hope Rubin Kazan lose to PAOK in the final round of games, while the Londoners will then need to overhaul a five-goal difference at Shamrock Rovers - a team they had to come from behind to beat at home.

With the firepower available to them, there is a chance that Spurs could qualify, but Redknapp is not confident at all.

"I am disappointed now because we are not going to be in the last 32," Redknapp said. "It's very slim - it is very difficult now. I wanted to stay in the competition but it wasn't to be. Full credit to the opposition, they worked hard and looked dangerous."

With PAOK having already qualified, they could be forgiven for resting their first team against Rubin in a fortnight's time, but manager Laszlo Boloni assured Redknapp that will not happen.

He said: "I promise to Tottenham, that I will not pick my second team. You know why? Because I don't have a second team."