Better than last season – it's official

Last updated : 14 April 2006 By Editor

Avoiding defeat at home to West Brom at the end of last month clinched the stage in the season where even if Spurs had gone on and faced defeat in every one of their remaining fixtures, they would still have lost fewer games than last season in the Premiership.

Robbo said: "I think we've relished the pressure this season and enjoyed it because no one really expected us to be up there. We've progressed a little bit further than we all expected to and we've come back in games and taken something from them whereas in the past we might have lost them. Last year we needed to turn our defeats into draws and this year we've turned our draws into wins and it's been very rare when we've had a bad performance.''

Spurs came from behind at White Hart Lane to take maximum points against the Baggies and then lost one before bouncing back last weekend at what has become a bit of a fortress home this season.

The day after Tottenham's win against West Brom, rivals for fourth spot Arsenal went a long way to sealing a place in the semi final of the Champions League, before completing the task the following week and setting up a last four clash with Spanish side Villarreal.

The Spurs keeper added: "I was enjoying Arsenal's run in Europe - until I found out that if they finish fifth and win the European Cup then they'd knock us out of the Champions League. I did think it was right last year when Liverpool won it and deserved to get back in it."

The rules have changed since Everton finished fourth last season. The Toffees kept their reward of a Champions League place for their achievement, while Liverpool who finished the season three points below them in the Premiership were only allowed to compete this season through a back door entrance, despite clinching the trophy last May.

Source: Daily Telegraph