Gomes inexplicably allowed a cross from Simon Davies to slip through his grasp and into the net in the first half and showed a marked reluctance to deal with corners all afternoon.

But while the former PSV Eindhoven keeper proved he was still on his game with a string of fine saves, Redknapp is aware other teams may have now pin-pointed a weakness - as Fulham certainly did.

"Fulham just blocked up the goalmouth on every corner and made it difficult for him," admitted Redknapp.

"You could see they were doing that on every corner. I would imagine he will get targeted.

"He has got to deal with that. But if you look at his record in Holland, he was a world class goalkeeper.

"He took the bang on the mouth on Wednesday night against Liverpool which certainly didn't help him any, but that is no excuse.

"He made a bad mistake for the goal but he made some saves after that. I have got to stay with him.

"Their first goal certainly didn't help anyone but we've just got to keep believing in him because that's it, he is our goalkeeper. It is no good caning him - I've got nobody else. It is hard. I've told him to keep his chin up."

Tottenham were inferior in all departments against a vibrant Fulham side full of former Spurs stars.

Captain Danny Murphy, Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies and the impressive Bobby Zamora all had spells at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham were left chasing the game when Andrew Johnson pounced for Fulham's second in the 69th minute after Gomes has elected to stay on his line.

Although substitute Fraizer Campbell scored a late consolation, Redknapp was mystified as to why his side were so poor.

But he admitted that talk of his players being named in the England squad appeared to have worked against them.

Tottenham's biggest mistake was to launch a succession of high balls at the Fulham defence where the giant frame of Brede Hangeland gobbled them up.

"We never really got hold of the game," admitted Redknapp. "We started in second gear and never got out of it.

"They deserved the win. I thought we could come and get a win but they worked hard and were solid.

"We stopped passing the ball and started thumping balls onto the big centre-half's head and he will deal them all day.

"He is a magnificent header of the ball. He is about six-foot five. We started to panic and change our game.

"When you start getting talked about being in the England team, it should give them a boost. It should have given them a lift but it didn't.

"Darren Bent was very quiet and didn't put in the same shift that he has done in the last few weeks for some reason. He has been outstanding so we need him to get back to that again."

Fulham strikers Zamora and Johnson gave Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate a torrid afternoon but Murphy was equally impressive in the midfield.

He insists he is now enjoying his football at Craven Cottage after admitting his time at Spurs had been 'indifferent'.

"I've got a lot of responsibility on my shoulders in terms of the captaincy and my role in the team," said Murphy.

"I'm probably fitter and stronger than I've been in a while because last season was my first full one after an indifferent time at Spurs.

"I think we've got a better squad now than we've had before. I just want to be part of a successful season and not go through the emotions of the last one.

"We've got a lot of players who are hungry and keen to succeed in this division.

"While we don't always play with the quality we want, that is the aim, and we hope that it is the right recipe to get results because we need to find that balance.

"We don't just want to be a pretty footballing side and not win games, we want to be both."