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Defoe expects 'devastated' Spurs to bounce back

Jermain Defoe couldn't convert for Spurs with the score at 2-2 © PA Photos

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Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has revealed that he and his team-mates were left "devastated" by Sunday's dramatic 3-2 defeat to Manchester City but believes Spurs will not dwell on the result.

Defoe, 29, missed a late opportunity to put Harry Redknapp's side 3-2 up at Eastlands and City went on to punish the visitors, Mario Balotelli winning and scoring a stoppage-time penalty to seal victory.

The result left Tottenham nine points adrift of Premier League leaders City and dealt a massive blow to the North Londoners' title hopes.

But Defoe insists that while the heartbreaking manner of the loss was difficult to take, Spurs will be ready to respond immediately.

"We were so unlucky," Defoe said. "The lads are devastated. We really thought we were going to win the game when it was 2-2. It was just unfortunate. We just needed that bit of luck and it wasn't there.

"But we will keep going. We have got some big games coming up - games that we can get points from, games I think we can win. We'll be fine.''

Defoe scored in the first-half, but it is his 92nd-minute miss that will live longer in the memory, a squandered opportunity he puts down to Gareth Bale's cross not being quite right.

"Gaz's one at the end, it was difficult for him," Defoe said. "He went past the player and had to play it in front instead of across, so I could pass it in. He had to play it in front and maybe just hit it a little too hard. I couldn't really reach it.

"As soon as I made the run I thought it was a goal. I had to stretch my leg and hook it around the post but I couldn't really reach it. Even then I thought we'd still get the point, the lads had done brilliantly. But they got a last-minute penalty and it was all over.

"There are not many teams that can come here and get points or perform like we did. It was a tough game but we really performed, so there are a lot of positives we can take.''

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