Tottenham Hotspur 2 Middlesbrough 0

Last updated : 26 September 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Spurs boss Martin Jol lives to fight another day after watching his side ease past Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup thanks to late goals from Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone.

Jol has been under intense pressure all season and it was thought that defeat against Gareth Southgate's side could mean the end of his spell in the White Hart Lane hotseat, but the Dutchman saw his side earn him a stay of execution.

Both sides made changes to the teams that played out away draws on the weekend, with Jol bringing in disgruntled striker Jermain Defoe, while Southgate made six changes to his injury-ravaged side.

Spurs fans were singing Jol's name from the off and their side should have been ahead after eight minutes, Jermaine Jenas screwing his shot horribly wide after Defoe had sent him through.

Jol's team continued to pour forward, though, with stand-in keeper Brad Jones denying both Defoe and Gareth Bale.

On the half hour Teemu Tainio wasted the chance of the night. The Finn had an age to meet Defoe's cross six yards from goal, but the ball appeared to strike his shoulder, leaving Jones to almost apologetically pluck the ball from the air when any firm contact would have surely beaten him.

And Jones produced another miracle shortly after, deflecting Defoe's looping header onto the bar after Tainio's shot had deflected to the former West Ham hitman.

Boro were toothless in the opening period but could, astonishingly, have gone in ahead at half-time, centre-back Chris Riggott belying his position to blaze over from six yards.

The game petered out somewhat after the interval, ands with 20 minutes left Jol made the changes that were called for, but to the crowd's anger it was Defoe who came off for Robbie Keane, despite being the liveliest man on show.

Defoe was furious, throwing away the water bottle that was offered to him, in the most obvious show yet of his frustration at White Hart Lane.

But the substitutions had the desired effect as Spurs immediately took the lead, Gaerth Bale running on to Keane's incisive through ball to round Jones and slide home from a tight angle.

It was an excellent finish from the Welshman, but Boro were furious thinking Aaron Lennon was offside in the build-up. The goal correctly stood though, despite Southgate's fury.

And three minutes later it was 2-0 as Lennon skinned Fabio Rochemback on the wing before cutting inside to put the ball on Huddlestone's head. The giant midfielder could not miss and Jol was mobbed by his delirious staff on the touchline.

Spurs played out the remainder of the game comfortably, and at the final whistle the look on Jol's face was clear, despite the best efforts of those around him, the Spurs boss will not give up his job without a fight.