Tottenham captain Ledley King has warned his team-mates they must "stand up and fight for each other" if they want to stay up this season.Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp blasted some of the players for what he feels is a lack of the stomach necessary in a relegation dogfight after watching them slump to a stoppage-time 1-0 defeat at Wigan on Sunday - a fifth Premier League match without a victory.

Spurs had started brightly, but faded badly during the second half and failed to provide new £15million striker Jermain Defoe the service to deliver a goal on his return from Portsmouth.

The north London club, who have one foot in the Carling Cup final following their win over Burnley, have slipped back into the bottom three, with the positive influence Redknapp had when he took charge in October clearly fading.

King, who played his first full 90 minutes since Boxing Day, is in no doubt of the challenge facing his team.

"We have to improve, otherwise we will go down. It is simple," declared the centre-half. "We need people to stand up and fight for each other, and be counted as men and as players.

"That has not been happening enough, which is why we find ourselves in this position."

King, quoted in the London Evening Standard, added: "We are not playing well away from home, but when that happens, you have to work hard and maintain your focus.

"We are conceding late goals because of a lack of concentration. We are switching off, and that sums us up at the moment."

Redknapp, who left £15million man David Bentley on the bench on Sunday, has made it clear he feels the squad inherited from Juande Ramos lacks strength in depth.

While he has more money to spend in the transfer window, the former Portsmouth manager is not certain wheeling and dealing is the answer.

"The club have paid a lot of money for these players because they are supposed to be quality players but they need to show that on the pitch," he said.

"We have some players in there who need to do a lot better than they are at the moment."

Asked if he had plans to bring in replacements, Redknapp replied: "I haven't got anyone in mind.

"It is pretty quiet really. Where do you find good players this time of year? It is hard."

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