Ramos ‘going nowhere’ as Spurs held by Latics

TOTTENHAM’s Spanish manager Juande Ramos denied reports he is homesick and desperate to return to his homeland as he appealed for time for his new-look side to adapt to the Premier League after a dismal goalless draw with Wigan at White Hart Lane kept them bottom of the table.

Spurs fans booed their team off the pitch at half time — just before Ramos substituted £14million (€17.7m) Russian signing Roman Pavlyuchenko — and at the end.

And Wigan boss Steve Bruce piled on the agony when he said afterwards: “We had a fantastic opportunity but took the wrong options because they were there for the taking, basically.”

Spurs might also have had a second half penalty when substitute Aaron Lennon went down under a challenge by Honduran defender Maynor Figueroa.

Ramos said: “I’ve seen it since the match finished on television and it is a clear penalty. Things could have been different if it had been given.”

Former Sevilla boss Ramos, appointed when Martin Jol was sacked last October, insisted: “It’s not true at all (that I want to go home).

“I am delighted to be in London and I’m delighted to be at Tottenham. I’m having a marvellous experience.”

Pavlyuchenko and another recent signing, £17m (€21m) midfielder David Bentley, were substituted and Ramos explained: “We wanted to try something different in the second half and that is why we made changes.

He admitted: “We need time. Some players came in only just before the close of the transfer window and there have been big changes.

“The crowd made their reaction to the performance at the end and maybe it was just but I don’t think it is anything personal.

Bruce said: “When there is a big turnaround in players at a big club like Spurs it can take a time to settle although in my opinion it is only a matter of time because they have too good players not to turn it around.

“But at a big club like Spurs you look to your top players to perform when things are not going well and it is a huge pressure on them.

Bruce had to name two goalkeepers on the bench in Mike Pollitt and new signing Richard Kingson to make up the seven-man numbers after midfielder Michael Brown was allowed to miss the game with his wife in hospital giving birth.

Opta Fact: Wigan have never beaten Spurs in the Premier League.

Opta fact: Spurs have picked up just 24 points in 23 games in 2008.

Opta fact: Spurs have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games

Opta fact: Wigan have won only one of their last six league games.

Opta fact: Spurs are the only Premier League team not to have won a game this season.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Zokora, Woodgate, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley (Lennon 64), Jenas, O’Hara, Bale (Huddlestone 80), Bent, Pavlyuchenko (Campbell 46).

WIGAN: Kirkland, Figueroa, Boyce, Bramble, Melchiot, Valencia, Scharner, Palacios, Koumas (Kapo 72), Zaki (Camara 82), Heskey.

Referee: S Tanner (Somerset).