Redknapp: Sunderland game is key

Harry Redknapp has urged his team to forget about next week's Champions League game with AC Milan and concentrate instead on making sure they are competing for a place in next year's competition by beating Sunderland.

Spurs looked set to lose ground on their rivals last weekend but Niko Kranjcar's injury-time winner against Bolton, and Chelsea's loss to Liverpool, moved Redknapp's team level on points with the fourth-placed champions.

Much of the attention on the club has centred on their failed bid for the Olympic Stadium and next Tuesday's glamour tie with Milan at the San Siro.

But Redknapp is keen to throw the focus back on the game in the knowledge that Manchester City's Champions League hopes could be hit in their derby with United.

A victory will also see Tottenham move ahead of Chelsea, who play Fulham on Monday, and Redknapp has called on his team to build on last week's win by recording their third straight triumph.

He said: "We are bang in the frame with the top four and are looking to do our best to keep up there so the league games are all important to us."