Steve Coppell unhappy with Spurs winner

Reading manager Steve Coppell was disappointed with the Robbie Keane penalty that gave Tottenham a 1-0 win.
Greg Halford handled in the box but Coppell felt referee Alan Wiley initially opted against a spot-kick.

"My players were saying that on the first appeal the referee shook his head and said 'no' then almost immediately blew his whistle," said Coppell.

"It's not often my players complain. To say 'no' and then say 'yes' to a penalty seems like a strange sequence."

The win moved Tottenham up to sixth in the Premiership, while it was Reading's fourth defeat in five games.

Coppell added: "The ball popped up and hit his hand, for sure. I think it was just an involuntary thing from Greg. But no advantage was gained and I'm not sure if the penalty fits the crime.

"In the second half the ball hit Michael Dawson on the hand so maybe we could have expected something then.

The Royals have now gone six games without a win but Coppell was happy with his side's display.

"We had a real go," he stated. "When we were 1-0 down we desperately tried to get the goal and maybe that left us a bit open.

"In the second half we had no real creation, they defended well but I couldn't have asked any more from my side.

"But it's a measure of our progress that we don't just sit back and capitulate. On a different day we might have got something."

Tottenham manager Martin Jol said his side almost paid the price for failing to take their opportunities and felt the margin of victory should have been greater.

Jol said: "We had three big chances early on and in the second half we had lots of chances to finish them off. We should have got three or four goals.

"This was a must-win game - it was a marvellous result."

But Jol also gave credit to Reading's attacking approach in an open and entertaining game at White Hart Lane.

He added: "They had good chances too. They put a lot of bodies forward and took chances so credit to them.

"They are in the top eight because they are a terrific team, who get a lot of men forward. They play good football. With their style it is always difficult and there is always pressure."