Gilberto howler dents Spurs’ hopes

TOTTENHAM assistant boss Gus Poyet (pictured) insists he is sure Spurs can overturn a 1-0 deficit when they travel to face PSV in Holland.

Gilberto suffered a nightmare debut at White Hart Lane as PSV earned a slender advantage, from last night’s first leg of the last-16 UEFA Cup tie.

The Brazil full-back was booked, at fault for Jefferson Farfan’s winner, and was then taken off at half-time.

But Poyet defended the player, saying: “Anyone can make a mistake,” he said.

“You have to make decisions, and he made the wrong decision.”

As for the result, Poyet said: “They are organised — we knew that. They defend quite deep — we knew that as well — and they are good passing the ball. It is going to be different over there.”

It was a deflating evening for Spurs coach Juande Ramos players, none were as disappointing as Gilberto.

Jonathan Woodgate was back at the heart of defence with Ledley King. Neither were at fault for Farfan’s 34th-minute opener.

Aaron Lennon’s poor free-kick was cleared and Farfan broke forward. Lennon did get back to intercept but when the ball fell to Gilberto, the full-back took a touch too many and Farfan dispossessed him before finishing powerfully beyond Robinson.

Gilberto’s horrendous evening ended at half-time when he was taken off for Jamie O’Hara, although the substitute was needed to block another Farfan effort on the edge of the penalty area.

Dimitar Berbatov was enduring a frustrating evening but he managed to find Pascal Chimbonda at the far post, only for the full-back to head over.

King came off for Adel Taarabt as Spurs chased the game, but the Dutch league leaders still threatened and Robinson had to tip a Farfan effort around the post and Jan Kromkamp had an effort disallowed.

Gomes was needed to save from Robbie Keane and O’Hara flashed a volley just wide before the end.

Bolton 1 Sporting Lisbon 1

SIMON Vukcevic struck a brilliant second-half equaliser for Sporting Lisbon to ensure Bolton face an uphill task in next week’s second leg. Earlier Gavin McCann registered his second European goal for the Trotters with a sweet right-foot finish from 14 yards in the 25th minute.

TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Chimbonda, Woodgate, King (Taarabt 73), Gilberto (O’Hara 46), Lennon, Jenas (Huddlestone 64), Zokora, Malbranque, Berbatov, Keane.

PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp, Marcellis, Salcido, Alcides, Culina, Simons, Mendez, Farfan (Dzsudzsak 85), Koevermans (Lazovic 77), Afellay (Bakkal 91).

Referee: S Lannoy (France)

BOLTON: Al Habsi, Hunt, Andrew O’Brien, Cahill, Gardner, Campo (Teymourian 84), Davies, Joey O’Brien (Guthrie 67), McCann, Taylor, Helguson (Giannakopoulos 55). Subs Not Used: Walker, Samuel, Meite, Vaz Te. Booked: Joey O’Brien, McCann. SPORTING: Rui Patricio, Abel (Romagnoli 46), Tonel, Anderson Polga, Grimi, Veloso, Bruno Pereirinha, Joao Moutinho, Izmailov (Gladstone 85), Vukcevic, Tiui (Adrien Silva 79).

Referee: A Yefet (Israel).