Sebastien Bassong hopes that Spurs fans will forget last night’s derby and look ahead to their next home game, which comes in the Champions League.

SEBASTIEN Bassong is urging Tottenham to forget their derby dismay quickly and concentrate on preparations for their upcoming league and Champions League clashes.

The Cameroon international captained the Spurs side that suffered an embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup.

However, the 24-year-old believes that Spurs must prioritise the Premier League this season, and he is also urging disappointed fans to look ahead to the Lilywhites’ next home game.

Tottenham host their first ever Champions League group match in N17 next Wednesday night, as Dutch champions FC Twente arrive in north London for a crucial clash in Group A.

“I think the main thing for us is the league, but as we’re professional we want to do well in every competition. It’s still a bad thing to be out of this competition already, to be out so early, so I think we need to bounce back,” said Bassong.

“The fans are right to be disappointed about the game because they expect us to win at home, and it was a derby, but the next game at home will be in the Champions League so it will be different. Maybe we’ve got bigger games ahead.

“Of course it was quiet in the dressing room. When you lose you can’t be loud and smiling but we’re going to bounce back. We’re professionals so we have to switch on to the next game, away at West Ham. I don’t think this result is going to affect us because we’re strong, we’ve got a strong squad and we’re going to be alright.”

Bassong concedes that the penalty given against him in the first minute of extra time was pivotal in Spurs’ derby defeat, and he has voiced his anger at the decision, revealing that Samir Nasri privately admitted that contact was minimal.

However, the Tottenham defender has no complaints about the second penalty which swiftly followed, as 18-year-old Steven Caulker hauled down Marouane Chamakh.

“I can’t complain about that, I think that was a penalty,” said Bassong. “Those goals came at important times – the third goal came very soon after the second one and then I think the game was nearly over.

“I think Steven did well. He was a bit anxious before the game. I think that’s normal, but he did well. He’s a good lad and a good player and I think he’s going to play again for Tottenham.”