MICHAEL Dawson admits that Tottenham are “devastated” that they blew their last chance of a comeback in the fight for the top four on Saturday.

With Manchester City losing at Everton, a home win for Spurs over Blackpool in the late kick-off would have closed the gap to four points ahead of the showdown at Eastlands tomorrow night.

But the Lilywhites could only muster a 1-1 draw, needing to come from behind late on to avoid a second successive defeat against the Tangerine Army, and let City off the hook.

“Man City had dropped points earlier in the day and our aim was to go out there and get three points. We’re all devastated we didn’t do that,” said Dawson.

“We knew we were going to have to beat City away this week. On Saturday we wanted to put the pressure on them and go four points behind them, and then if we won on Tuesday it would be one point.

“It was a big chance for us but we’ll pick ourselves up. We won at City last season so of course we’ve got a chance, but they’re favourites and in a great position. They’ll say ‘if we win tomorrow, we’re there’.

“We’ve got a fantastic squad, there’s no doubt about that when you look in that changing room. But when you look at the amount of money City have spent, there’s no hiding it. When you’ve got that amount of money it makes a difference.

“But our squad is fantastic, with players to come back. We’ve got a good spirit and we’re all together. We’ll got to City on Tuesday and give it our all, hopefully get three points and see where that takes us.”

Tottenham’s draw with Blackpool means the Lilywhites have taken just seven points from a possible 24 against the bottom four teams in the top flight.

“It’s disappointing and there was nobody more disappointed than me,” said Dawson. “I think we have to be more ruthless as a team.

“Is the Champions League to blame? No, we can’t make excuses like that. If you look at our results, we have come back and won after Champions League games, so we can’t put it down to that.

“I wish we could put our finger on it and try to put things right. It was disappointing and we’re gutted.”

Spurs’ hopes of beating Blackpool on Saturday were effectively ended when they conceded two penalties in the space of a minute.

Referee Lee Probert pointed to the spot when Dawson handled in the box, sparking an incredible sequence of events as Heurelho Gomes saved Adam’s penalty before flapping at the ensuing corner and hauling down Gary Taylor-Fletcher, giving Adam a second chance from the spot, which he took.

While Dawson has no complaints about the second spot-kick, the Spurs skipper is less impressed with the original decision against him, claiming he was pushed when his outstretched arm hit the ball.

“I’ve gone up in the air, felt a nudge and when I heard the whistle I was hoping it was going to be for a free-kick for me,” he said. “Unfortunately, it was a penalty but Gomes pulled off a world-class save.

“We thought we’d got out of jail but they got another corner and he comes and punches and then catches one of their players.

“I was disappointed with the first one when I felt the nudge. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t and unfortunately I didn’t this time.”