Spurs' controversial 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday leaves them seven points behind Manchester City in the race for the fourth-place finish in the Barclays Premier League which carries the reward of Champions League qualification.

The north Londoners enjoyed a dramatic run to the last eight of Europe's premier club competition this season having finished fourth in 2009-10. They now look set to miss out on a return to the Champions League next season and Redknapp insists the club will go backwards if they do not strengthen this summer.

He said: "I hate when people say, 'Oh well, if they don't make the Champions League, they're going to sell (Gareth) Bale or they're going to sell (Luka) Modric - that's not the way forward.

"The way forward now is to say, 'Okay, let's go and find one or two top-drawer players and go and move on again and let's get back in the Champions League'.

"I haven't spoken to (chairman) Daniel (Levy) about it but I'm sure he's got to be positive. Where do you go if you don't do that?

"Chelsea looked like they might have dropped out of the top four round about transfer-window time, so they went and spent £75million on two players because they wanted to stay in there.

"I'm not saying we should spend £75million but we need to keep positive and moving forward."

At the other end of the table, Blackburn boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 win over Bolton at Ewood Park, a result which ended a 10-game winless league run and leaves them three points clear of the relegation zone.

Rovers boss Steve Kean hailed the role played by loan signing Jermaine Jones in the win and said: "At times it looked as though there were two of him in there. He was getting back, he was screening Kevin Davies, he was pushing up into midfield.

"Then he was driving on, that's the type of energy he's got. I thought he was absolute quality."

Blackpool and Wigan remain locked together on 35 points after both drew their games on Saturday, with the latter still in the bottom three on goal difference.

The Seasiders were held goalless by Stoke at Bloomfield Road and their manager Ian Holloway is glad that his side have glamour games to end the season.

"It might sound crazy, but our fans will be right up for Tottenham away and Manchester United away, and we have got Bolton here," he said.

"When you look at those games - who knows? There are a lot of games you wouldn't have given us a chance in this year, but we've managed to produce things."

Wigan, who drew 1-1 at home to Everton, travel to Aston Villa next before hosting fellow strugglers West Ham in a crucial contest and then facing Stoke on the final day.

Latics goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi is backing his team to beat the drop.

"I think the games against Villa and West Ham are the biggest games of the season," the Oman international said.

"We don't want to leave it until the end - we want to get something from these two games.

"Of course we can do it. We have confidence and good players in the team."

Sunderland's 3-0 home defeat to Fulham leaves them still looking over their shoulder as they sit six points above the bottom three with three to play.

Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is taking nothing for granted yet and said: "We can't presume anything, the way the table is at the moment. We've still got three games to go and we might need to pick up a few points.

"Since the end of January it's been a total frustration. It's just petered away and it could have been one of those very, very good seasons."

Peter Odemwingie is happy to stay at West Brom after the Baggies secured their top-flight status with a 20-1 win over Aston Villa at the Hawthorns.

The Nigeria international has been the subject of speculation linking him with a move away after netting 14 goals in his first campaign but he is adamant he is content to be part of Roy Hodgson's squad.

He said: "I am asked a lot recently if I am staying here. Yes, I am performing good and maybe drawing attention to it.

"As I said, the minimum I need now in my life is Premier League action. When I was coming here it was all I wanted for my career in one of the best leagues.

"We are staying (up) and I am happy. Anything extra that comes, I am not the only one to decide."