Keane deepens Leeds’ depression

Tottenham 2 Leeds Utd 0

Venables signed Sheringham for Spurs first time around a decade ago and also coached him as manager of England. But there was no room for sentiment as the Tottenham skipper pounced on a loose ball on the right edge of the Leeds box and steered a low curling drive inside the far post after 11 minutes.

Keane was sold by Venables to Spurs for £7million two months ago, and the Ireland striker showed what Leeds were missing with a sweet strike from the edge of the box four minutes before the half-time break. The pressure increased on Venables after defeat against one of his former clubs stretched the club's run to just one victory in their last nine Premiership matches.

Venables admitted results "were not good enough" and recent criticism was justified. He said: "It is fair to say no-one is accepting the results but they are there and they have got to be dealt with. "We have had a disturbance right from the beginning of the season because of the financial situation of the club. "We had to sell two players (Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Keane) and you cannot ignore the fact I have 11 players not playing "This game is wonderful when you are winning and awful when you are not, that is it in a nutshell. It is not easy times and I feel a little low right now."

To rub salt in Leeds' wounds, Keane was the outstanding performer. Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle paid tribute to the 22-year-old, but also expressed sympathy for Venables. He said: "We had a lot of good individual performances today but Robbie was a bit special and his goal was the epitome of his performance.

"I feel for Terry. You don't like to see any manager going through difficult times. Keane revealed Tottenham's victory was more important than his goal against former side. "I enjoyed it it was nice to score. But the most important thing is to win, to get back on track with the three points. We deserved to win today." Keane was involved in Sheringham's goal also. Stephen Carr's quick throw found Sheringham and he released the striker in a race with Teddy Lucic.

After a tussle the ball broke loose on the right edge of the box and Sheringham who followed up to steer a low curling drive inside Robinson's far post for his fifth goal of the season.

Keane was like a man possessed as he aimed to prove a point against his former club, and how Leeds could have done with him in their team.

The 22-year-old swapped passes with Sheringham after 22 minutes on the right edge of the box and hit a firm drive which Robinson stopped. The next goal was always going to be important and it arrived in the 41st minute. Gustavo Poyet chipped the ball towards the right edge of the box which Keane hit first time with the outside of his boot, and the ball flew into the far top corner for his fourth goal in 12 games since his move.

Keane came closest to adding to the goals in the second half, but both teams appeared to accept the game was already settled.

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Bunjevcevic, King, Richards, Carr, Freund, Anderton (Redknapp 78), Poyet (Iversen 90), Ziege (Davies 68), Sheringham, Keane.

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Lucic, Wilcox, Bowyer, Burns (Viduka 37), McPhail, Bakke, Kewell, Smith, Viduka (Milner 82).

Ref: S Bennett (Kent).