Bale gets a spot of luck as Tottenham progress

Gareth Bale admitted he was not sure the decisive penalty he won in Tottenham’s FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Stevenage at White Hart Lane last night should have been given.

Emmanuel Adebayor converted the spot-kick to put Spurs 2-1 up in the 55th minute after Bale had gone down under a challenge from Mark Roberts.

The hosts, who trailed early on to a Joel Byrom penalty, went on to win 3-1, thanks to two goals from Jermain Defoe. “I’m not sure it’s a penalty, but I didn’t go down looking for it,” Bale said.

“The ref gave it so what can I do?

“I think we all knew how hard it was going to be. They gave everything they’ve got and gave us a hard time, but in the end we started our passing game and the boys finished them off.”

Spurs defender Michael Dawson was carried off early on and manager Harry Redknapp confirmed he would be out for a long time. “Michael Dawson looks like he’s got a really bad injury, which is a real blow,” Redknapp said. “It’s long term for sure.”

Aaron Lennon was also forced off in the first half and Redknapp revealed he had suffered a hamstring tweak.

“Every time he plays he seems to do his hamstring,” the manager added.

Last night’s results — Championship: Brighton 2 Cardiff City 2, West Ham United 1 Watford 1.

TOTTENHAM: Cudicini, Nelsen, Dawson (Walker 9), Kaboul, Rose, Lennon (Adebayor 38), Parker, Kranjcar (Livermore 81), Bale, Van der Vaart, Defoe.

STEVENAGE: Day, Henry, Ashton, Roberts, Laird, Wilson, Byrom, Bostwick, Charles (Myrie-Williams 62),Beardsley (Reid 62),Shroot.

Ref: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).