Ramos signed Woodgate from Middlesbrough for �8m in January

Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate says he and his team-mates are backing under-pressure manager Juande Ramos, despite the club's poor run of form.

Spurs are bottom of the Premier League after picking up only two points from their first eight games of the season.

But Woodgate, 28, said: "We will stick by the manager no matter what. The buck stops with the players.

"We are hurting inside but we have to stand up and get ourselves out of this mess that we've got ourselves into."

Ramos came in for more criticism after his side were beaten 2-1 by fellow strugglers Stoke on Sunday - when Spurs had two men sent off.

But Woodgate is adamant that it is the Tottenham players who are at fault not the Spaniard.

606: DEBATE If Ramos is sacked then would any other manager be able to do anything without a strikeforce? Aeneas1979 - (ex-shelf)

"He is still the manager and hopefully he will continue to be," added the England defender. "We have played well at times but this season we haven't cut it.

"We are bottom of the Premier League and it is not nice at all."

Ramos himself described his side's situation as "terrible" following their loss at the Britannia Stadium.

"I am worried," the former Sevilla boss stated. "Last season we won the Carling Cup and everyone was very happy.

"At this moment everyone is very sad and I am worried about it as I don't like this situation."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he has sympathy for Ramos, who arrived in north London from Spain on 27 October 2007.

Wenger told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Of course you feel sorry for every manager who is in his situation but we live in a job where someone has to be last.

"You feel sorry for them because you know how much you suffer and you can only give them your support."

Spurs are now five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table but Wenger believes there is still time for Ramos to turn things round at White Hart Lane.

He added: "There are only eight games played, with 30 to go. For Tottenham, it is a surprise that they are down there but they have enough quality to bounce back."