Livid Jol accuses Spurs of lacking character

TOTTENHAM boss Martin Jol criticised his side for lacking character as their 10-match unbeaten run was halted by Reading at the Madejski Stadium yesterday.

Spurs took the lead through Robbie Keane’s penalty but the hosts were ahead by half-time through Nicky Shorey’s drive and a close-range finish from the impressive Steve Sidwell.

The 3-1 victory was capped off when Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle chased a long kick and finished past Paul Robinson.

“At half-time we wanted to put it right but you need personality and character,” said Jol.

He added: “It’s frustrating, you get angry a bit as well because you can do all the hard work and prepare yourself well.

“If we would have had a good result today everything would be fine – last eight of the Carling Cup, in the UEFA Cup and probably seventh in the league. And you throw it away.”

Jol added: “All credit to them because apart from Arsenal not many teams have won here in the last 12 or more months. But if you make those sort of mistakes you can’t win any game.

“So it is good to be back to earth with our feet on the ground and be the team we were before when we had a run of 10 games.”

Extending their unbeaten run looked likely when Keane sent Marcus Hahnemann the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ibrahima Sonko had tripped Hossam Ghaly.

“We did okay for the first part of the match, we did everything we had to do — attacked them in the spaces and had a couple of chances and the penalty,” said Jol. “After that a couple of players did the wrong things.”

Shorey levelled after 38 minutes when he found the bottom corner with a powerful 25-yard drive.

Sidwell put Reading ahead when he bundled home from close range in stoppage time of the first half.

Doyle added a third when he chased a Hahnemann kick and finished past Robinson, taking Reading above Spurs in the Premiership table.

However, Coppell said: “It’s all about where we finish at the end, that’s the be-all and end-all of our season.

“I don’t want to highlight of our year to be September, October, November.

“The bottom line remains that if we retain our status in this decision, it will be a far better achievement than gaining promotion last season.”

Meanwhile, Jol has distanced Tottenham from a move for David Beckham from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

“This is probably the cheapest story ever,” Jol said. “Three or four weeks ago we had the same and said ‘no’ it was rubbish. Again, it’s rubbish and, if it isn’t rubbish, you can call me a liar.”

Opta Fact: Spurs have won only three away games in the whole of 2006.

Opta Fact: Reading have drawn only one match this season.

READING: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little (Gunnarsson 85), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt (Oster 80), Doyle, Ki-Hyeon (Lita 75).

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Young-Pyo Lee (Defoe 68), King, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora (Huddlestone 68), Jenas, Ghaly, Keane, Berbatov.

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).