Woodgate, 28, was part of a Leeds side in freefall and left Elland Road in 2003 before they lost their top-flight status - and he has warned his Spurs team-mates they are in the middle of a battle to stay in the Barclays Premier League.

They are bottom and face Bolton on Sunday at White Hart Lane, with dressing-room morale low following last night's 2-0 UEFA Cup defeat to Udinese at Stadio Friuli.

"You aren't too good to go down - believe me," said Woodgate.

"I have seen it before at Leeds, and Leeds had a better team than we have got right now.

"They went down eventually and we really have got to roll up our sleeves without question, because I am telling you now it is going to be hard.

"Two points out of eight (Premier League) games - 100 per cent, we're in a battle.

"We are good enough to get out of it if the players start concentrating, without a shadow of a doubt. If we don't then we will go down."

Juande Ramos' men were outclassed by Udinese, who are second in Serie A, after a goalkeeping blunder by Heurelho Gomes.

Gomes should have cleared a backpass but was caught in possession by Fabio Quagliarella, who he then brought down in the area.

Antonio Di Natale scored from the penalty spot, then hopes of a comeback were dashed when Jamie O'Hara was dismissed for two bookings in a minute, both for fouls on Alexis Sanchez.

Simone Pepe wrapped up the scoring late on.

"The same that has happened every single game we have played this season, it was a lack of concentration," Woodgate said.

"We have had that in other games and we have to start learning quickly.
"A goal goes in and we start thinking 'here we go again'. We need to really stand up now.

"The senior players have got to stand up and start taking responsibility."

Asked if it was comparable to Leeds, Woodgate said: "Well we are bottom of the league, and it can't get much worse than that. We deserve to be where we are."

Ramos had left David Bentley out of his matchday squad, less than 24 hours after the midfielder's outspoken assessment of Spurs' start to the season.

"I chose these 18 out of the 20 in the squad," Ramos said. "I don't know what happened before the match.

"His reaction was normal, the same as the other players who are not playing."

Ends