A TALL ORDER; Crouch says top four is tough to achieve.. but Spurs may just have talent to do it.

Byline: JOHN CROSS

PETER CROUCH lifted Tottenham to dizzy heights in the Premier League - and then brought them crashing down to earth.

Supersub Crouch scored his first goal at White Hart Lane since his pounds 9million summer move but fears high-flying Spurs will struggle to break into the top four this season.

Harry Redknapp's Tottenham revolution has left the White Hart Lane faithful dreaming of catching the elite and their last-gasp victory over Birmingham left them jointtop after a glorious start. But though Crouch believes Spurs can close the gap this season, he fears the Big Four have a vice-like grip on the Champions League places.

Former Liverpool striker Crouch said: "It would be a surprise if anyone else breaks into the top four.

"But if anyone can do it, we can. We've got a fantastic squad and we've got a belief this year that we can get as close as we can to them.

"We've got fantastic options. We've got fantastic strength in depth and even if we get injuries we can come through that.

"It's good to play great football like we did at Hull in the first week of the season, but sometimes you've got to dig in and get a result if you're going to be a successful side - and we did that against Birmingham.

"I was really pleased to get my first goal here at White Hart Lane. As soon as I came on I felt lively and fresh. "In fact I could have had a few goals."

The beanpole striker is finding it tough to dislodge pint-sized pair Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane, although Crouch's 72nd-minute opener and Tottenham's rather unconvincing victory will give Redknapp food for thought.

Keane did not look at the races against Birmingham, who were denied the point they probably deserved by Aaron Lennon's last-gasp winner. The board signalled only four minutes of added time but the goal came a good 16 seconds after that.

When you get breaks like that going for you then anything - including breaking into the top four - is possible. If the secret of success is winning when you do not play well then Spurs cracked it on Saturday.

Birmingham levelled through Lee Bowyer three minutes after Crouch had opened the scoring and should have had a penalty when Wilson Palacios tripped James McFadden.

Mind you, Crouch hit the woodwork and had another headed off the line so Birmingham rode their luck too.

What his arrival signalled most of all was Tottenham's strength in depth.

Croatian international Luka Modric hobbled off - with, it emerged yesterday, a broken leg - and an England international replaced him.

Spurs boss Redknapp claims the purchase of Crouch was a shrewd piece of business and says that Fabio Capello should definitely have him in England's World Cup squad.

Redknapp said: "Peter was different class when he came on. I love Crouchy, that's why I keep buying him! He's great in the air - how do you stop him? That's why England need Crouch because he represents a Plan B. He's a player that you'd have to take to a World Cup because he gives you something different.

"When the game needs changing he can come on and do that. Even if he's coming off the bench for England he can completely change the game and the way you play."

CAPTION(S):

RISING TO THE TOP Peter Crouch gets above Birmingham defender Roger Johnson to head the ball past Joe Hart