Tottenham were ‘so poor’ in their late comeback win against Coventry and ‘must use it as a turning point’, insists Jamie Redknapp… who says Ange Postecoglou ‘took liberties’ with his team selection

Jamie Redknapp claimed Tottenham will be ‘relieved’ to have survived their Carabao Cup defeat to Coventry City, but also claimed manager Ange Postecoglou ‘took too much liberty’ in his team selection.

Coventry threatened to knock Tottenham out in the third round after Brandon Thomas-Asante gave the Championship side a deserved lead in the 63rd minute.

A much-changed Spurs team turned the match around in the closing stages when substitute Djed Spence equalised in the 88th minute.

Brennan Johnson raced through to complete the comeback two minutes into injury time, saving Tottenham from an early exit.

Redknapp said in an interview with Sky Sports that Postecoglou looked almost embarrassed as his team went through despite being second on the table at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Sky Sports analyst Jamie Redknapp claimed Spurs will be ‘relieved’ after comeback

Redknapp claimed Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou looked almost embarrassed at the end of the match

‘They were so poor, they weren’t going anywhere fast until the goals. Until then, look at what Mark Robins did [scoring for Man United]“We can look back on this goal as something similar and that’s what kept them in it,” Redknapp said.

‘There was almost a look of embarrassment from Ange at full-time. They will be hugely relieved.

‘They’ll be sitting in the dressing room thinking, “How on earth did we get away with that?” Coventry were the better team and he’ll be so relieved. They’ve got to make sure it’s a turning point for them.’

The result ultimately eases the pressure on Postecoglou after a difficult start to the season, with Tottenham taking just four points from their opening four Premier League games.

Postecoglou had rotated his team extensively for the third round match, making eight changes for the game against the Championship team.

Redknapp questioned the team selection, saying Postecoglou had learned nothing from Tottenham’s second-round exit by Fulham last season.

Last year, Postecoglou made nine changes against Fulham, with Spurs eventually being knocked out on penalties after a disjointed performance.

“I didn’t like the team he picked. He took liberties. I thought he learned from Fulham last season but he didn’t pick a strong enough team. But he got away with it,” Redknapp added.

‘You can see they lack confidence now. They didn’t pass the ball around 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 attempt to end their 16-year trophy drought

‘I find it difficult when managers leave such big names out of the selection. I don’t understand why they don’t field someone like Son and then put him on the field when you’re winning.

“This was going to be a tough game anyway and a potential banana skin because of what Coventry have done in recent years. The team he picked has given them a problem and they’ve been very, very lucky.”

Tottenham had started the Carabao Cup match against Coventry with a bold statement from Postecoglou that he always wins something in his second season at a club.

The Spurs manager admitted he would have failed if he failed to end the club’s 16-year trophy drought, which dates back to the last time the club won the League Cup in 2008.