Kevin Bond is confident Tottenham will qualify for the Europa League knockout stages despite their 1-0 defeat at Rubin Kazan.
Bassong also apologises for error
Tottenham assistant Kevin Bond is confident the club will qualify for the Europa League knockout stages despite their defeat away at Rubin Kazan.
A much-changed Tottenham side went down 1-0 in eastern Russia thanks to Bebras Natcho's second half free-kick.
Spurs goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini made a number of saves just to keep the score at 1-0, with his team-mates unable to muster a chance of note at the other end.
Despite the defeat Bond - standing in for Harry Redknapp who was back home recovering from a minor heart operation - chose to look at the positives, starting with the performance of veteran Cudicini.
"Carlo pulled off one save in particular in the first half and a couple of other excellent saves for us tonight and that is what we knew he was capable of," Bond said.
"We were under no illusions how good a side they were.
"They are a very good side with a lot of good players and in the end just one goal made the difference.
Tight
"It is going to be tight right until the end, but with the games we have got left, it is still in our hands to qualify and we feel confident we will do.
"I left my phone in the changing room and will give him [Redknapp] a call on the way home.
"I spoke to him earlier in the day and he was in fine form. He is threatening to come in tomorrow - perhaps a bit of extra training for the lads!"
Defender Sebastien Bassong, meanwhile, was full of remorse after his rash challenge on the edge of the box led to the free-kick Rubin scored the winner from.
The Cameroon international, who has already revealed he may seek to leave the club in January in order to find regular first team football, said: "What can I say? I told the lads: 'Sorry, I should have cleared it. I'm sorry'.
"It's simple. I should have cleared the ball and I took an extra touch, an extra bad touch. I didn't see him coming and when I found out it was too late because I had a bad touch.
"I was praying it wouldn't be a goal but it was."
