Crouch pleased to bounce back

Crouch: Scored two against Stoke

Tottenham striker Peter Crouch admits that he was pleased to respond from what he describes as a career low-point against Real Madrid.

The Spurs forward was sent of last week in the Spanish capital as his side sank to a disappointing 4-0 defeat in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

But he made amends at the weekend with two goals against Stoke in the Premier League to get the North Londoner's top-four charge back on track.

"That's as low as I've felt just because of the sheer importance of the match," Crouch said of his Bernabeu nightmare.

"It was the quarter-final of the Champions League at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid. With all those things put together, it was very disappointing.

"I watched the game in one of the referee's rooms with Rafael (van der Vaart), who came off at half-time.

"It was really frustrating. With each goal that went in, it felt like I had cost the team."

On the Potters clash on Saturday, he added: "I was dying to play.

"I was thinking of saying (to Redknapp): 'Please, please, play me' to try and make amends and help get three points

"I told myself before the game: 'Don't do anything stupid' and I scored a couple of goals so thankfully it worked well."

Meanwhile, boss Harry Redknapp has revealed that the 30-year-old was not moping around following his red card.

"I was worried about him and how he would feel but he hasn't moped, he has just got on with it," Redknapp remarked.

"I could've left him out. He organised the sweep for the (Grand) National. I knew there was no problem with him when I walked in and he said: 'Do you want a ticket for the sweep, gaffer?"'