Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted injuries and suspensions to key players really hurt his sides chances as they lost 1-0 at home to Stoke City on Saturday.

Captain Ledley King and crafty playmaker Luka Modric were both out of the side with injuries whilst striker Jermain Defoe was on the sidelines following a red card against Portsmouth last week.

Redknapp is confident that if his side had those players in, the result would have been completely different.

"You've got to remember one thing, and it isn't an excuse, you had possibly, maybe, your three best players missing, who would open up any defence - Modric, Defoe and Ledley King," Redknapp said.

"It's very difficult, especially with Modric and Defoe. Defoe would have scored if he had played because he's that sharp and that bright, but he cost us when he got sent off last week.

"Modric would have opened them up, no disrespect to anyone else, Niko did well, but Modric is irreplaceable, world class, and I thought we missed that little bit of spark just to open them up.

"Jermain knows, he knows, I told him it wasn't just getting sent off, but we'll miss you for three games now. This was a big game, Arsenal's a big game next week, they're important games we can't afford to lose him for.

"Tuesday night as well, but the League games are the big games. We want to stay up there if we can and that is what we've got to try and do."