Jol backs under-fire Zokora

Tottenham manager Martin Jol defended Didier Zokora against claims of cheating after the Ivory Coast midfielder tumbled to earn a match-winning penalty against Portsmouth at White Hart Lane.

Dutchman Jol admitted Portsmouth’s former Tottenham player Pedro Mendes did not touch Zokora when the Ivory Coast international went down in the 34th minute.

Referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot from where Jermain Defoe beat goalkeeper David James.

And Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has called for technology to be introduced to allow match officials to take a second look at difficult decisions.

But Jol said: “He (Zokora) assured me that he didn’t dive. He said he was off-balance and fell down when Pedro Mendes challenged him.

“I believe he was off-balance because I know this player and I have to believe what he says. You can see him going in all the time and sometimes he does look off-balance.

“But this was not a normal dive. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen a situation like this in this country before.

“I can understand Harry Redknapp being upset but I’ve been upset myself over a couple of things in the last two years.

“Some you win – some you lose. At the time, it looked to me like a penalty and it obviously looked that way to the referee as well.”

Portsmouth manager Redknapp revealed that referee Foy apologised at half-time in yesterday’s match by saying, “I’m sorry, Harry, I’ve made a big mistake”.

But Redknapp had sympathy for the Merseyside official and said: “He didn’t make a mistake on purpose. Referees need help out there.

“I saw from the big screen that it was no way a penalty about 10 seconds before it was taken.

“So why can’t the fourth official, who is wired up to the referee, have a monitor by the side of the pitch and tell the ref what really happened?

“The boy dived and the penalty has cost us dear. People say diving has become too frequent but it has always happened.

“Surely we should use the technology to stamp it out and put things right. It was not much different to the Ben Thatcher incident a few weeks ago when he was only booked for that terrible challenge on Pedro.

“We have got to do something about things like this.

“The referee Dermot Gallagher wanted to help us after his mistake at Manchester City and I’m sure this referee does now as well. But nobody can. I certainly cannot do anything about it.”

Portsmouth suffered a second consecutive defeat despite Kanu pulling a goal back – his fifth of the season – with a header from Gary O’Neil’s cross five minutes before half-time.

They had trailed from the opening minute when Danny Murphy backheeled home the loose ball after goalkeeper David James spilled Dimitar Berbatov’s header and collided with defender Glen Johnson.

Then came the penalty controversy and Kanu’s quick reply, but a super save by Paul Robinson denied Lomana LuaLua in stoppage time as Portsmouth looked certain to snatch a point.

Jol was glad to end a run of four consecutive Premiership matches without a goal and see Tottenham climb out of the bottom three.

“On chances we deserved to win,” said Jol.

“Portsmouth were the better side in the second half but we were on top in the first.”