Defiant Tottenham Talisman Confident of Recovery

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale believes the club can use their dramatic late defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday to spur them on for the rest of the season.

Tottenham lost 3-2 at the Etihad in an enthralling end-to-end game that underlined Harry Redknapp's side's attacking prowess, and although the defeat means Spurs trail the league leaders by eight points, Bale believes they can take plenty of positives from the match.

Tottenham were 2-0 down and undoubtedly underwhelming until goals from Jermain Defoe and then a superb Bale finish, brought the visitors level.

While their eventual defeat made the Tottenham players "feel sick", Bale is confident Spurs can recover and maintain their admirable pursuit of the two Manchester clubs.

"We can take heart from the performance, but we all feel sick that we've lost the game that way. I don't think we deserved to lose the game." The mercurial Tottenham talisman told The Daily Mail.

"We showed our character to come from 2-0 down and I thought we should have won the game. We can't quite believe it.

"That's football. It bites back when you think you are on top. I thought we were fantastic and we'll pick ourselves up.'"

Moments prior to Mario Balotelli's cooly taken penalty, Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe missed a gilt edged chance to wrap up all three points, when a typically buccaneering run and an equally impressive cross, albeit perhaps a touch late, by Bale, was narrowly missed by the 29-year-old England international.

Bale admits he thought Defoe had scored and subsequently the defeat for Tottenham felt even more painful.

"I was waiting for the ball to hit the back of the net,' he said. 'For them to then go up the other end, get a penalty and win the game was a massive blow." The Tottenham star concluded.

Bale was at his scintillating best against City and in the aftermath of the match, Micah Richards suggested the Tottenham speedster was the best winger he had ever faced.

Writing on his personal twitter page, @OfficialMR2, he said: "I think gareth bale is the the best winger I've play against! I didnt think he could top robben! #whataguy"