Muzzy sees red as Birmingham pay penalty

Spurs 2 Birmingham 0

Izzet was booked in the first-half and then given his marching orders for a second yellow card after 65 minutes when referee Dowd judged he had dived in search of a penalty.

It was the second crucial penalty decision of the game to have gone against Birmingham, who turned in a determined display but remain rooted in the relegation zone.

Bruce felt his side had enjoyed the better of the game until Robbie Keane put Tottenham ahead from the penalty spot after referee Dowd ruled he had been impeded by Matthew Upson. Seven minutes later Izzet was dismissed, and as Birmingham chased the game with 10 men, Jermain Defoe struck on the counter-attack to seal the victory for Spurs. "To say I was disappointed in the decisions is an understatement. Muzzy was booked in the first half for absolutely nothing. Then he was sent off for a so-called dive but if anybody made a meal of getting a penalty today it was Robbie Keane," said Bruce.

"I usually have the utmost respect for that referee but today he was poor. He couldn't wait to get the red card out of his pocket.

"Muzzy Izzet is one of the best professionals I have worked with. He has gone over but he hasn't looked for a penalty, he hasn't thrown himself away.

"Muzzy felt there was contact, but he doesn't know if he did it himself. I'd love to sit here and tell you the way I have seen it, but I can't. I am skint at the minute and you know what will happen if I do. I have not had many bonuses lately and I don't want to be paying any fines."

Birmingham battled hard and in a poor game created enough chances to have won. Paul Robinson pulled off excellent saves from Jiri Jarosik and Julian Gray while Emile Heskey planted a header wide.

Bruce was heartened by his side's performance but was once again left to rue their profligacy in front of goal.

"That was as good as we played for a long, long time. You can't come to Tottenham and not take your chances," he said.

"But up until that penalty decision we were the better team by far. You must take your chances at this level."

Tottenham boss Martin Jol left immediately after the game because he was not feeling well and the performance of his side was not one to settle the stomach.

Spurs assistant boss Chris Hughton was delighted with the application his men showed.

"The pleasing thing for us is that we know we can play better but we came out winning the game," he said.

Hughton said he had not had a chance to review the controversial decisions on video, but judging by the players' reactions he felt Keane deserved his penalty.

"Sometimes you look for reactions and we had enough players around who felt it was a penalty," he said.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, King (Pamarot 67), Lee, Lennon (Defoe 58), Carrick, Davids, Jenas, Keane (Brown 73), Mido.

BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Upson, Lazaridis (Dunn 72), Pennant (Pandiani 83), Izzet, Kilkenny, Jarosik, Gray, Heskey.