Jol happy to have avoided early Cup exit

CARDIFF battled to earn a replay against Tottenham yesterday in an FA Cup third-round tie marred by crowd trouble at Ninian Park.

Riot police were needed at the away end with 12 minutes left of the goalless draw in the Welsh capital. Michael Chopra had missed the target with the Championship’s side’s best chance, while Jermain Defoe came closest for the visitors.

It was the first time this season Spurs had not won a cup tie, and the replay adds to their congested schedule following success in the UEFA Cup and Carling Cup.

The two teams last played in the FA Cup 30 years ago and, aside from roofing, not much had changed at Ninian Park, including the hostile atmosphere.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol admitted he was desperate to avoid becoming another high-profile victim of the FA Cup third round and was happy with a 0-0 draw. Jol is confident his team will not join the likes of Charlton and Sheffield United in losing to lower league opposition when the replay takes place at White Hart Lane.

Jol said: “When you don’t score this is the maximum result. You saw what happened to other Premiership clubs on Saturday so to take them back to White Hart Lane was the maximum result.

“Even if they are a Championship side that doesn’t mean anything if you’re playing for the FA Cup. As soon as we saw the draw we knew it would be difficult because it is the FA Cup.”

Spurs captain Paul Robinson was equally satisfied with the outcome in unhelpful conditions at Ninian Park. He said: “It was a difficult atmosphere and overall it was fair result on a poor game. It’s a difficult place to come as we’re reasonably pleased to get them back to the Lane.”

Cardiff manager Dave Jones was proud of his players’ efforts and called on them to maintain such standards in the league.

He said: “It was a tough game but a good cup tie. There were no goals but it was entertaining. Could we have sneaked it? Maybe, but they had some chances too. We matched them in every department.

“The players proved they’re good players. To match Tottenham by reaching the Premiership they’ve got to do that week in week out.”

Michael Chopra refused to believe that Cardiff’s best chance of victory had gone insisting the Bluebirds could pull off a result at White Hart Lane.

“I don’t think our best chance is gone because we know what we have and we know what we have to do,” he said.

CARDIFF: Alexander, Gilbert, Purse, Loovens, McNaughton, Flood, McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Chopra, Thompson.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Davenport, Lee (Gardner 88), Malbranque, Huddlestone, Tainio, Murphy (Lennon 67), Berbatov, Defoe (Keane 82).

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire).