Ledley King has called on his demoralised Tottenham team-mates to banish the disappointment of defeat in the Carling Cup Final and focus on saving their season.

Spurs must lift themselves quickly for Wednesday's vital Premier League game against fellow strugglers Middlesbrough after they were beaten 4-1 on penalties by Manchester United following 120 minutes of goalless action at Wembley.

Saturday's trip to Sunderland will end a spell of five games in 13 days for Harry Redknapp's team. Club captain King is almost certain to miss the home game with Boro due to his knee problems, and fellow defenders Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate are major injury doubts along with winger Aaron Lennon.

But King insisted Spurs can build on their efforts against United and said: "We are not consistent enough, and we need to transfer our cup form into our matches in the League. We are already thinking about the Middlesbrough game.

Going on these cup runs should give us confidence, as should competing against the top teams in the finals.

“We have proved, on our day, we can match the top sides. It is a big contrast to beating Chelsea in last year's final, but we felt we did well.”

Although Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post for United at the end of normal time, Lennon forced a fine save from Ben Foster before Jamie O'Hara and David Bentley missed from the spot as United won the shoot-out 4-1.

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has launched a fierce attack on the Premier League for failing to postpone Saturday's match at Sunderland.

Redknapp wanted it to be put back to give his team a 12-day break between Wednesday's home game against Middlesbrough and the trip to Aston Villa on 15 March.

Like Spurs, Villa and Manchester City were in UEFA Cup action last Thursday, but neither club has a League match over the forthcoming weekend.

Redknapp joked: “They decided to fit in another game on Saturday (7 March), because we haven't been playing enough. We asked the League if the Sunderland fixture could be rearranged, but we were told it had to take place on Saturday.

“There were loads of spare mid-weeks when we could have played. I suppose they try to get the fixtures in as quickly as possible.

“I will have to look at who is ready and who is available. Of the three centre-backs, Dawson has the best chance of recovering in time.”

Both midfielder Wilson Palacios and striker Robbie Keane were ineligible at Wembley, but should return against Boro.