Keane spares Jol’s blushes but Spurs held

ROBBIE KEANE is hoping for an end to the uncertainty around Martin Jol’s future after coming off the bench to save the Tottenham boss from an embarrassing UEFA Cup defeat against Anorthosis Famagusta.

Losing the tie was never a prospect after Spurs travelled to Cyprus with a 6-1 lead from the first leg but they reached the group stages in unconvincing fashion in Larnaca.

“I’m sick of people even talking about it to be honest,” said Keane of Jol’s future. “We are trying to do a job for the team and to get a result.”

Jol added: “I’m used to it, I have to cope with it.

“It’s been going on for the last six or seven weeks — but I feel in the last month we have done well.”

Paul Robinson was given the opportunity to atone for his blunders against Villa and he had no chance with Fabinho’s strike in the 54th minute.

Nikolaos Frousos appeared to use his arm to control a hanging cross before he pulled the ball back for Fabinho to volley home.

“I still consider this game as a clean sheet, if you see the goal,” said Jol. “They had two keepers on the pitch.

The turning point for the visitors came when Jol brought on Ireland captain Keane in the 75th minute.

Within three minutes he had scored, getting on the end of Gareth Bale’s cross.

“I have to think positively and for me it’s great that Tottenham are in Europe again,” Jol added. “We had a couple of thousand supporters here and it is always good to see them happy.

“I knew Bale is good going forward and Keane is a good finisher,” Jol said. “We needed them both. I wanted to win. In the end, we’re going to the next round.”

FAMAGUSTA: Nagy, Tripotseris, Constantinou, Nicolaou, Laban (Deyanov 83), Zlogar (Skopoletis 46), Ndikumana, Panagi, Frousos, Fabinho (Pahars 62), Boaventura.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Stalteri, Lee (Keane 75), Dawson, Gardner, Huddlestone, Boateng (Bale 69), Zokora, Malbranque, Bent (Taarabt 85), Defoe.

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic).