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Parker admits Spurs fear another second half slump

Spurs were unable to get the win against struggling QPR © PA Photos

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Scott Parker has admitted that Tottenham are fearful of another late-season collapse that could damage their Champions League hopes for a third successive season.

Last season, a run of just one win in nine Premier League matches towards the end of the campaign saw Spurs slide down to fourth in the table, meaning they lost out on a place in Europe's top competition after London rivals Chelsea lifted the trophy.

In 2010-11, a sequence of one win in ten league games also saw Spurs miss out, denying them an immediate return to the competition having reached the quarter-finals that term.

After Saturday's 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers saw a previously in-form Spurs drop to fourth in the table, Parker revealed that there are worries of another disappointment at White Hart Lane.

"It's in everyone's mind because it's happened before," the midfielder said. "We need to maintain our performances. We have some tough fixtures coming up but we've got some players coming back from injury. Hopefully we can freshen it up that way. I'm sure we'll be fine.

"We've lost some world-class players but we've added some too. Maybe we'll learn from the last two years and stay strong."

Parker has recently returned to the Spurs side having missed the first half of the season through injury. The England international replaced Sandro after just 25 minutes at Loftus Road, and could be in line for only his second start of the season when Premier League leaders Manchester United visit them on Sunday.

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