Rafael van der Vaart's long-range goal shortly before half-time turned out to be enough for victory at Watford on Friday night, although the home side deserved a replay having hit the post twice and dominated for lengthy spells.
Redknapp had made a dash from Southwark Crown Court as soon as his case had adjourned for the weekend to join up with his players in time for kick-off.
Redknapp had named a strong starting line-up as van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor, Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe and Scott Parker all began against the side in 18th place in the Championship table.
Adrian Mariappa was included in the Watford defence having been the subject of a bid from Newcastle earlier in the week. He was excellent too, giving Adebayor not a single chance.
Watford launched the first shot of the game after Younes Kaboul's slip allowed Joe Garner to give Marvin Sordell a sight of goal but Carlo Cudinici was required only to make a routine save.
Sean Murray was next to have a go and this time Cudinici could not hold on at the first attempt, although Hornets captain John Eustace wayward effort from distance eventually relieved the pressure.
Sordell was then on the end of Troy Deeney's cross to the front post but could only divert the ball wide as the angle was too tight. It had been an encouraging start by Sean Dyche's underdogs however.
Prince Buaben saw a long-range effort fly wide as Watford continued to dominate. Tottenham had strung together far more passes but had failed to create any actual chances.
Garner might have made Tottenham pay for slack marking in the 25th minute but could get very little power on his shot on the turn.
Tottenham's first reply came from Defoe in the 29th minute, a shot that bounced up off the turf and was saved comfortably by Scott Loach, the home goalkeeper, and Watford successfully repelled a free-kick after Nyron Nosworthy had fouled Danny Rose.
Tottenham, who were without Gareth Bale, were guilty of giving the ball away far too, with Modric surprisingly one of the biggest culprits.
Suddenly, however, they went in front in the 42nd minute through van der Vaart as the Dutchman evaded an attempt to intercept Kyle Walker's pass and ran from deep inside the Watford half before beating Loach from 25 yards.
It looked as though the goalkeeper should really have saved it, although the ball did bounce just in front of the England Under-21 international.
Modric was replaced by Aaron Lennon for the second period, which began with Eustace thumping in a rising effort that just cleared the bar.
Watford should have equalised from the next attack, which saw teenager Murray hit a post with a curling shot that had Cudicini beaten and Deeney failing to find the empty net from the rebound. Tottenham had certainly been fortunate, especially as Michael Dawson's slip had put them in trouble in the first place.
Loach partially redeemed himself at the other end by tipping over a header from Kyle Walker before Rose's cross from the left just eluded Defoe in front of goal.
Van der Vaart then hit the bar from outside the box after Defoe had found Lennon in space on the left and the substitute had laid the ball back invitingly.
Watford then hit the same post again at the other end to remind everyone the tie was still in the balance. This time it was a header from Eustace from a corner from substitute Mark Yeates, the former Tottenham reserve.
Garner came close from another corner and the Tottenham goal came under further pressure from a free-kick that saw Nosworthy force Cudicini into a parry and Walker throw himself in the way of Sordell's follow up.
Dawson had to block a shot from Yeates as Watford continued to make life difficult for the Premier League side until the final whistle.
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