IF nothing else, Owen Coyle wants to make sure it is a fair fight at White Hart Lane.

Wanderers travel to Tottenham rock bottom of the Fair Play League, having picked up four red cards already this season, much to the chagrin of the manager.

David Wheater accounts for half that total – and the big defender picked up a four-match ban for his moment of madness against Everton at the Reebok last weekend to leave his side short-handed at the back for today’s trip to north London.

Coyle is in no doubt that such mistakes have cost his side crucial points in the last few months, but by the same rationale, he accepts that some of the poor decisions have been made because of the pressure building against Wanderers after their slow start.

It’s a Catch 22 situation the Scot is anxious to eliminate, and as he prepares to do battle with Harry Redknapp’s high-flyers, he is calling for calm heads in his squad.

“It goes without saying that we can’t continue playing with 10 men week-in, week-out,” he said.

“Particularly because we’re not talking about five or 10 minutes when you have to ride out the storm – our minimum amount of time has been something like 40 minutes.

“We have put pressure on ourselves, I accept that, and we want to do well for our football club. But you can’t carry on like that. The individuals concerned have to recognise their self-discipline in making sure they make the right decision at the right time.”

Ricardo Gardner was sent off for two bookable offences against Swansea in November, while Ivan Klasnic saw the red mist descend the month before when he headbutted Norwich’s Marc Tierney.

Wheater’s first red card was perhaps the most unfortunate, picked up in defeat against Arsenal for a soft pull on Theo Walcott.

But all of the above have proved pivotal points in their respective games, and that’s why Coyle is keen to avoid any controversy with referee Stuart Attwell this afternoon.

“Sometimes there are uncontrollables that, as a manager, you can’t do anything about,” he said.

“It is important we keep 11 on the park. You can train all week and prepare players but when it comes to an individual decision they have to have that self-discipline to make sure we have everyone available.

“These are huge turning points. We have given ourselves a real mountain to climb. Ivan (Klasnic) was sent off early in the second half against Norwich at home, David Wheater after 19 minutes against Everton and Ricardo Gardner after about 47 minutes at Swansea.

“If we had taken a point out of each of those games I think we’d be 14th or 15th in the table – that is how fine the margins are.”