UEFA CUP - Tottenham 3 AaB 2

Tottenham staged a stunning second-half comeback to beat Aalborg 3-2 to edge closer to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup and maintain Juande Ramos' unbeaten record.

Ramos stated prior to the clash that he would not panic buy in January but the first half against the Danish opponents gave him every reason to be drawing up a short-list of defenders.

With better finishing the visitors would have had the points safe by the interval, but all they had to show for their work was a two-goal advantage.

Ramos responded with a positive substitution by bringing on Darren Bent, who grabbed the winner after Dimitar Berbatov and Steed Malbranque had levelled the scores.

It means Ramos remains unbeaten in his six games since taking over from Martin Jol and after winning the UEFA Cup with Sevilla in the last two seasons, should seal a place in the last 32 when Spurs travel to Belgium to face Anderlecht next week.

Ramos wrote in his programme notes that he believed Spurs were one of the better teams in the competition - but looked off the pace in the first half.

It took Aalborg less than two minutes to show why they are level on points at the top of the Danish league.

Only 113 seconds were on the clock when Thomas Enevoldsen stroked the ball into the top corner from the edge of the area, after receiving a throw from Martin Pedersen and getting time to turn and run at Spurs' defence.

The visitors went into the clash unfancied but they were passing with purpose after the opener, while Spurs' makeshift defence looked rocked.

Younes Kaboul was missing with a groin strain and Pascal Chimbonda had to move from full-back into the centre, and a mistake looked on the cards whenever the ball was pushed forward by the Danes.

Clearances from the Spurs defence were going at all angles, normally straight to the Danes, to the delight of their noisy travelling support.

The visitors had plenty more chances to embarrass the hosts.

Rade Prica was fortunate to be ruled onside when Andreas Johansson slipped him through on goal, but the striker was unlucky not to get a penalty when Lee Young-Pyo hauled him to the floor.

Siyabonga Nomvethe was given time to set his sights from long range but fired wide, while Prica would have had a run straight at Paul Robinson if he had controlled a through-ball.

Jermaine Jenas was back just in time when South African striker Nomvethe was about to shoot from the edge of the area again, while Danny Califf was unmarked from a corner but headed over.

The second goal came eight minutes from the break when Michael Dawson failed to clear and the ball slipped through him. Prica crossed from the left flank and Kasper Risgard stabbed in at the second attempt.

Ramos was furious on the touchline, as was assistant Gus Poyet who clashed with the fourth official.

The head coach may have read the riot act during the interval but it was his bold substitutions that turned the game, bringing on Bent and Tom Huddlestone.

Huddlestone held up kick-off by being late out of the dressing room - but his introduction was worth the wait.

The England Under-21 midfielder, who replaced injured Jenas, sliced the Aalborg defence open with a through-ball and Berbatov toe-poked in for his fourth of the season.

Berbatov set up the equaliser with his work on the right six minutes later, out-muscling Pedersen then crossing. Robbie Keane worked the ball to Malbranque whose finish went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Spurs pushed for the winner but Aalborg showed they were still a threat on the break, Enevoldsen firing just wide from a similar position to his opener.

But Bent grabbed the winner in the 66th minute, tapping in from Aaron Lennon's cross after Gareth Bale's free-kick had been parried.

Dawson had an effort cleared off the line in the final moments, while Lennon and Malbranque also missed straightforward chances to extend the lead.

West Ham 1 Tottenham 1

Goalkeeper Robert Green saved an injury-time penalty from Jermain Defoe to ensure West Ham earned a point in a thrilling 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Upton Park.

Tottenham centre-half Michael Dawson had hauled Spurs level with a header in the 66th minute after a first-half blunder by Younes Kaboul had allowed Carlton Cole to open the scoring for the Hammers.

But former West Ham striker Defoe earned a controversial penalty when he was brought down by Lucas Neill in stoppage time but the Spurs striker's spot-kick was kept out by Green.

Tottenham began the game brightly and had a goal ruled out for offside as early as the fourth minute after goalkeeper Robert Green could only parry a shot from Jermaine Jenas into the path of Aaron Lennon.

The England winger tucked the ball away from eight yards but was immediately flagged offside.

Tottenham had a penalty appeal rejected in the seventh minute when Dimitar Berbatov appeared to be tripped inside the penalty area but referee Mike Riley was unimpressed.

In the 12th minute West Ham striker Carlton Cole found himself in the book for leading with his arm when challenging Gareth Bale.

Three minutes later West Ham defender George McCartney almost scored an own goal when he connected with a free-kick from Jenas but, much to his relief, the ball went inches wide.

But West Ham went in front in the 19th minute then they took full advantage of a dreadful defensive lapse by Tottenham's Younes Kaboul.

The Spurs centre-half tried to pass the ball upfield but his clearance hit Luis Boa Morte who burst into the penalty area before finding Nolberto Solano with a clever reverse pass.

Solano shaped to shoot home from an acute angle but instead cleverly laid the ball across the six-yard-box for the unmarked Carlton Cole to place into an empty net.

In the 23rd minute Hayden Mullens tested goalkeeper Paul Robinson with an 18-yard drive which the England stopper had to collect at the second attempt.

West Ham were prevented from increasing their advantage in the 26th minute by a stunning save by Robinson.

The England international, controversially axed by former boss Steve McClaren for the 3-2 Euro 2008 qualifying defeat by Croatia that cost him his job, saved at point-blank range from Boa Morte.

Moments later Berbatov should have done better for Spurs when a cross from Bale was misjudged by Mullins, but the Bulgarian failed to the hit the target from the edge of the six-yard-box.

West Ham carved open Tottenham again in the 38th minute when Solano burst into space inside the penalty area. He allowed Boa Morte to cross the ball for Matthew Etherington to try his luck with a header from six yards.

However, the former Tottenham winger's effort was dealt with comfortably by Robinson.

Referee Riley was at the centre of controversy five minutes before the break when he refused to award Spurs a penalty.

Tottenham midfielder Zokora had found the unmarked Robbie Keane with a delightful through ball and the Irishman only had Green to beat in order to level the scores.

The Spurs striker chipped the ball over the head of the West ham goalkeeper who then appeared to trip him. The ball flashed wide of the post and Riley waved away furious appeals for a penalty from Keane and a host of other Tottenham players.

Tottenham wasted a glorious chance to level the scores in the 49th minute when an unchecked run by Jenas caused problems for the West Ham defence.

Jenas eventually played the ball to the unmarked Steed Malbranque who curled his short around Green's left-hand upright.

In the 62nd minute West Ham replaced Mark Noble with Scott Parker - making his first appearance since September after injury.

But Spurs hauled themselves level in the 66th minute when a free-kick from Jenas was headed into the net off the underside of the crossbar by defender Michael Dawson.

In the 77th minute a break down the left flank by Bale almost brought Tottenham further reward.

Bale's cross was met by Malbranque who hit a rising drive straight at Green. Moments later Spurs replaced Keane with former West Ham favourite Defoe to the expected howls of abuse from the home fans.

West Ham were still dangerous on the counter though and Cole sent a 20-yard drive flashing inches wide of the target in the 79th minute while Parker forced Robinson into a stunning save moments later. Jenas then had to clear a header from McCartney off the line in the final minute.

But Spurs should have won it in stoppage time when Defoe was brought down by Lucas Neill. But the Spurs striker's spot-kick was saved by Green.

Neill: Pick Green for England

Lucas Neill believes West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green deserves a call-up to the England side following his stoppage-time penalty save against Tottenham.

Green's brilliant stop from Jermain Defoe ensured the game ended 1-1 and Neill was particularly relieved as it was his foul on Defoe that led to the spot-kick being awarded.

'Thankfully Green's pulled out the save at the death, we deserved a draw, it was an entertaining game,' he told Sky Sports 1.

'He's staking a claim for a spot in the national team, especially as there's a bit of a crisis. It's about time he got a chance.'

Carlton Cole, who put the Hammers ahead in the first-half before Michael Dawson's equaliser, added: 'I felt if we could have taken some of our chances then we could have won the game. But we'll take a point.'

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley also hailed Robert Green.

'It would have been harsh if we had been done in the last minute like that,' he said.

'Green redeemed himself for their goal. I am delighted for him because he has been fantastic all season.

'He's come out the game a lot happier. He's been playing well all season and that's all he can do.

'He's been very consistent but I thought Robinson made some good saves today and a draw was a fair result.

'The night before the game we looked at Tottenham's last two penalties which Keane had taken and he had put them in two different places.

'But obviously Defoe took this one and he put it in the same place he did last year, so perhaps that's why Green decided to go that way.

'Green said sorry for the first goal because when you come for the ball you've got to come and get it but what he did at the end of the game made up for it.'

Referee Mike Riley had earlier incurred the wrath of Tottenham for failing to award them a penalty in the first half when Keane flicked the ball over the head of Green and was then tripped by the keeper.

But Curbishley questioned whether Keane made a meal of the contact when he saw that his lobbed effort was going wide.

Curbishley added: 'You live and die sometimes by the referee's decisions - he's had two big ones to make and some would say he got one wrong and one right.

'I thought Keane was offside and I was waiting for the flag to go up. I have seen it again and I still think he was offside.

'Once he's flicked it over Green, I think there may have been a bit of contact but I think Robbie realised there was contact when the ball was going wide.

'The other penalty I can see him giving because of the angle but I thought he had given a goal-kick.'

Spurs remain unbeaten under new coach Juande Ramos but he was left with much to reflect on after Kaboul's blunder and Defoe's penalty miss.

But he refused to criticise either player and was also reticent to vent his true feelings about Riley's performance, even though it was clear that he felt the foul on Keane should have been punished with a penalty and a red card for Green.

Ramos said: 'We had the possibility to score a second goal which we didn't do and we have to be happy with the draw. But we have lost vital points we think we deserved.

'The decisions are ones that the referee has to make very quickly. I have got my opinion but the referee has to make a decision and we have to accept his ruling.

'My opinion is different to the referee but he blew the whistle. It would have been a decision which would have changed the game.

'It was an unfortunate action and a mistake by Younes. It gave an advantage to West Ham and when you let in unnecessary goals, it is difficult to win the match.

'Logically, Jermain is a little bit upset but these things happen in football and you just have to accept it as part of the job.'

Tottenham 4 Wigan 0

Tottenham picked up their first Barclays Premier League win in almost three months by cruising past Wigan 4-0 - but Juande Ramos' side were barely tested against their relegation-haunted opponents.

Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon, both trying to fight their way back into the England reckoning, got the first-half goals at White Hart Lane to put Spurs in total control at the interval.

Darren Bent, also looking to catch the eye of Steve McClaren, came off the bench in the second half to complete the scoring.

It was hardly a sign that Spurs are now going to challenge for the Champions League place they targeted at the start of the season, although some of the confidence lacking in the final days of Martin Jol's reign appeared to return.

They were helped by a hapless performance from the visitors. Wigan had lost their previous six matches and never looked like ending their abysmal run.

Attention will now turn to who will replace Chris Hutchings, or indeed if Paul Jewell would want Hutchings back at the club if he got the job. Another 32 points to get to the 40 mark seems a long way away.

As for Ramos, he is unbeaten in his four games since taking over from Martin Jol and this was his first win in the league, only Spurs' second all season.

The Spaniard wanted a win to have any chance of chasing a European place, and victory never looked in doubt.

Wigan's caretaker boss, Frank Barlow, had clearly told his players to target Spurs' lack of confidence at the back by aiming for the physical presence of Marcus Bent.

Although Spurs' marking was still slack at times, the visitors were toothless in attack and it was not long before the hosts took control, the opener coming in the 13th minute.

Robbie Keane was fed the ball on the left by Steed Malbranque before tricking Andreas Granqvist on the byline. His cross should have been dealt with by Chris Kirkland but the goalkeeper's effort could not prevent Jenas tapping in on the line.

Ramos wrote in his programme notes that he wanted his side to be positive when they were in the lead, rather than inviting the opposition.

Keane's volley that dipped over and a long-range effort from Dimitar Berbatov suggested they were on the attack.

Berbatov was criticised for appearing unhappy this week but he had a smile back on his face and the Bulgarian's flicks and tricks were coming off.

He set up the next two goals, the first of which came in the 26th minute.

Keane was offside when Berbatov's throughball was made, but Jenas had made a run on the blindside of the Wigan defence. The Spurs midfielder rounded Kirkland before planting his finish past Kevin Kilbane on the line.

For the third, Berbatov trapped Paul Robinson's huge kick before providing a nonchalant cushioned pass to Lennon. The winger took one touch before drilling a volley into the far post.

Barlow responded by bringing on Antoine Sibierski for David Cotterill six minutes before the break, but it was too little too late.

Jenas should have had a hat-trick a minute before the break, latching onto another Berbatov flick before heading into the penalty area - but his finish shaved the post.

The second half was a case of how many goals Spurs could muster.

Keane lobbed over when he was sent through just after the restart as Ramos' men refused to sit back.

Josip Skoko was booked for a foul on Jenas before he was taken off later in the second half. Paul Scharner also received a yellow card from Howard Webb.

Pascal Chimbonda, the former Wigan full-back who was jeered by the travelling support, forced a save from Kirkland at the near post.

Keane was taken off for Bent, while Malbranque picked up a knock and was replaced by Teemu Tainio.

Spurs striker Bent added the fourth 17 minutes before the end, his finish going in off the post after Jenas had threaded him through.

Jermain Defoe also came on but got struck straight between the legs when Younes Kaboul's effort crashed off the bar.

• Ramos: Clean sheets important

Dimitar Berbatov led the attack as Tottenham swept past Wigan and moved closer towards mid-table comfort - but it was another clean sheet that excited Juande Ramos.

Ramos arrived a fortnight ago with a reputation of attacking football from his time at Sevilla, although he has focused his work in defence and Spurs have not conceded in three of his four matches.

A toothless Wigan attack were barely given a sight of goal as Spurs cruised to a 4-0 victory, their first Barclays Premier League win since August 18 moving them up to 14th.

``We are happy with the scoreline but the thing I'm more happy with is three of the four matches since I've been here have been clean sheets,'' Ramos said.

``Once you get that clean sheet, players play much better and have more confidence.

``I can't give an opinion of Spurs before I arrived because I didn't see those matches - but my opinion is that a team needs to be attacking well but you need to do well defensively for solidity. You're going to perform better.''

Birmingham's defeat meant Spurs climbed three places.

``I'm especially satisfied with the three points because sometimes you can get three points and the teams behind you win, and you don't really go up the table,'' Ramos added.

Jermaine Jenas opened the scoring with a tap-in after Robbie Keane's fine work on the byline, then Berbatov took centre stage.

He passed to Jenas to round Chris Kirkland for the second, after 26 minutes.

Before the break it was 3-0. Berbatov cushioned a huge Paul Robinson clearance before a laying the ball back arrogantly for Aaron Lennon to volley home.

Berbatov has appeared unsettled at times this season but issued a statement on Thursday insisting he was happy at White Hart Lane.

Although he has been tipped to leave at the end of the season - providing Spurs do not go on a run that will take him to the Champions League - Ramos wants the Bulgaria striker to stay.

``He played exceptionally, the same as the team,'' said the Spaniard. ``Even though he did not score a goal he played very well.

``He has said that he wants to stay. Obviously he is a player who, when his team are winning is going to be happy.

``I hope until the end of the season he will make a decision and hopefully he will stay.''

Darren Bent came off the bench to add the fourth, then Berbatov was denied a goal his work deserved when his effort came off the post.

Wigan caretaker boss Frank Barlow admitted his side were woeful in the first half.

``We should apologise to our supporters who came down because that first half was very disappointing,'' he said.

Paul Jewell has been linked with succeeding Chris Hutchings, and Barlow hopes to remain at the club in some capacity when chairman Dave Whelan makes a decision. Whelan was not at the match as he was in Barbados.

Caretaker boss Barlow, who ruled himself out of the running for the permanent job, added: ``They've got to look for an established manager. The chairman knows exactly what he's looking for and you have to leave it to him.''

He added: ``I would like to remain at the club. I've not been on my own this week, we've got good backroom staff.

``In my situation it's a case of waiting to see. I'm fully aware of what the consequences are.''

UEFA CUP - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0 Tottenham 2

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov started the day insisting he was happy at White Hart Lane and finished it by scoring in the 2-0 UEFA Cup win against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The 26-year-old admitted the reports linking him with a move have affected his performances but he showed glimpses of last season's form as Spurs got back on track in Group G after losing to Getafe.

Robbie Keane volleyed the opener at Bloomfield Stadium with Berbatov heading a second to add to the anger of Hapoel fans, whose team are bottom of the Israeli league.

The hosts had Gal Shish dismissed in the second half, with the empty seats reflecting a lack of confidence and the fact the city derby against Maccabi on Sunday is considered a more important match.

Spurs manager Juande Ramos has won the UEFA Cup in the last two seasons with Sevilla but will surely face sterner tests if he is going to make it a hat-trick.

The Spaniard insists getting into the winning habit is his immediate aim before targeting silverware, and he remains unbeaten in his three games since taking over from Martin Jol but it was not the free-flowing football he was known for in Spain.

It was actually the hosts who started brightly and almost took advantage of an unbalanced Spurs defence.

Younes Kaboul's mistakes saw him relegated to the bench and Pascal Chimbonda, a full-back by trade, was in the heart of the defence.

A sloppy pass from him set up Hapoel's first chance, Bebars Natcho slipping the ball to Fabio Junior but the Brazilian could not get power on his volley.

Natcho was found in a promising position on the edge of the area after Spurs failed to clear a cross but he snatched at his shot and screwed wide. He also warmed the hands of Paul Robinson with a long-range volley from 25 yards.

Spurs seized control of the game by taking their first chance in the 26th minute.

It added to Keane's remarkable run of form and he now has 25 goals in his last 33 Spurs games, 10 of them coming this season.

He fed the ball out to Steed Malbranque on the left flank and then met the cross first time on the volley, leaving goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama motionless.

Berbatov added the second five minutes later. His first effort was blocked by Gabriel dos Santos but the rebound spun out to Malbranque, who provided the cross for Berbatov to head home.

Berbatov should have added a second just after the half hour when he burst into the area but his shot was saved by Enyeama. Keane's follow-up effort was deflected wide by Dos Santos, with Spurs appealing for a penalty.

Chimbonda headed just over from a Jermaine Jenas free-kick with two minutes left in the first half as Spurs finished the first 45 minutes strongly.

Barukh Dego had the first chance of the second half when he chipped over Robinson but just wide, then their hopes of getting back into the match faded when they were reduced to 10 men.

Shish had been booked late in the first half for a clash with Berbatov and Aaron Lennon, and he picked up his second yellow card in the 50th minute for a tackle on Lennon.

Malbranque was taken off for Jermain Defoe as Ramos looked at a 4-3-3 formation.

The new substitute was booked for a needless hack at his full-back, but he also fed Keane who got his angles wrong and shot wide with the goalkeeper to beat.

With the game over as a contest, Hapoel fans aimed their frustration at their young coach, Guy Luzon, as well as the owner who was in the directors' box.

Their misery could have been compounded by Darren Bent, who came off the bench and hit the post after rounding the goalkeeper.

Spurs fans were in more cheerful mood but they could not persuade Ramos to wave to them as Jol used to do, perhaps because he did not understand them.

A hat-trick of UEFA Cups for Ramos and they will be speaking the same language.

• Clean sheet thrills Keane

Tottenham captain Robbie Keane was pleased with his side's defensive efforts as they ran out 2-0 winners over a lacklustre Hapoel Tel Aviv.

The sides are UEFA Cup Group G rivals and both came into the match looking for some respite from their disappointing league form.

It was Spurs, starting to find their feet under new manager Juande Ramos, who achieved that goal and Keane, who opened the scoring with a precise volley before Dimitar Berbatov made it two after before the interval, was content with the performance.

He told Five: 'We had a few good chances and we finished the job off in the first half.

'We are very pleased with the win but the most important thing was the the clean sheet.

'We needed to get a good win but we've been conceding goals of late so that was the most important factor.'

Middlesbrough 1 Tottenham 1

Former Tottenham defender Luke Young spoilt Juande Ramos' first game as a Premier League manager by netting the goal that gave Middlesbrough a deserved 1-1 draw against Spurs at the Riverside Stadium.

Darren Bent put the visitors ahead against the run of play after 35 minutes with a low shot from 15 yards.

But Young ensured both sides' search for a league victory continued with a long-range piledriver in the 52nd minute.

Ramos made the surprise decision to opt for recent bench-dwellers Jermain Defoe and Bent in attack, while Kevin-Prince Boateng was given a first league start in midfield at Didier Zokora's expense as Spurs went in search of only a second league win.

Southgate, whose side are seven games without a win, was forced into one change after Jonathan Woodgate was ruled out with a leg injury, so Chris Riggott deputised. As expected, former Spurs striker Mido was not included in the 16-man squad.

Ironically, Spurs' last victory over a top-flight side came against Boro in the Carling Cup in September, but it was the the home side who made the more purposeful start.

Southgate's side almost took the lead in controversial circumstances just four minutes in when Stewart Downing was inches away from meeting stand-in skipper Gary O'Neil's cross-shot from the right flank.

Ramos was quickly out of the dugout to give Young-Pyo Lee and Younes Kaboul a piece of his mind after the pair were caught napping, still complaining the ball had gone out of touch.

The last time the Spaniard faced Boro was in the 2006 UEFA Cup final, where he led Sevilla to a 4-0 victory in what was Southgate's final game as a player.

But on the first half-hour's showing, a repeat rarely looked on the cards. A neat piece of interplay orchestrated by Steed Malbranque offered cause for optimism, but he opted to cross for Bent when perhaps better positioned to shoot.

Slowly Spurs grew in confidence and they soon had the left winger to thank for creating their opener.

The Frenchman dispossessed Young and slotted in Bent down the left. The England international checked inside Riggott before rifling a low shot inside Mark Schwarzer's left post.

It could have been two for Spurs a minute before half-time when Bent got on the end of Defoe's cross, but the ball trickled agonisingly wide of the far post.

The second half began at the same frenetic pace and the Teessiders were lucky to escape when Lennon's low cross deflected off Andrew Taylor and narrowly missed the lurking Defoe.

But the home side came straight back at them and only an excellent save from Paul Robinson in the 49th minute denied Jeremie Aliadiere from Fabio Rochemback's inswinging free-kick.

The England goalkeeper had no chance in the 52nd minute, though, when Young atoned for his earlier error, smashing a Spurs clearance into the top-right corner from 25 yards to level the scores.

In the 58th minute Ramos brought on Keane for Defoe and Berbatov for Bent in a bid to revive his side's fortunes and soon afterwards Zokora came on for Boateng, but Boro continued to dominate.

There were claims for a penalty when Aliadiere's cross appeared to hit Lee's hand, but referee Mike Dean waved them away.

One superb through ball from O'Neil almost sent Aliadiere clear, but Kaboul and Michael Dawson combined to clear the danger.

Keane may have scored seven times in his last seven outings, but the Republic of Ireland international was unusually clumsy in possession.

Fellow substitute Berbatov had the chance to show his new manager what he is capable of when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, but, disappointingly, the Bulgarian fired over.

The energetic Jermaine Jenas took advantage of the home side's tiring legs as he ran free down the right, but there was no one on hand to capitalise on his low ball across the face of goal.

Riggott could count himself fortunate moments later when Lennon's fierce shot cannoned off him, only to land the other side of right post with Schwarzer beaten.

It was end to end in the closing stages, but neither side could make the crucial breakthrough, leaving both still stranded near the bottom of the table.

• Poyet: Ramos will 'need time'

Gustavo Poyet claimed he and manager Juande Ramos will 'need time' to revive Tottenham's fortunes following today's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Middlesbrough.

After leaving Sevilla to replace Martin Jol at White Hart Lane last week, Ramos' reign at struggling Spurs got off to the perfect start when Darren Bent put the visitors ahead in the 35th minute after Steed Malbranque had capitalised on a Luke Young error.

But boyhood Spurs fan Young was to have the last laugh with the sweetest of strikes - a 25-yard piledriver seven minutes into the second half - to earn Boro a share of the spoils.

The point may have been enough for Tottenham to climb out of the relegation zone - for a day at least - but with Spurs having won just once all season in the league - a 4-0 victory over Derby on August 18 - Ramos has without doubt inherited a side in need of work.

'It's going to take a few weeks,' said assistant boss Poyet, standing in for Ramos because the club travelled without the Spaniard's translator.

'Without a doubt, we need time. I'm not asking for time but it was too difficult to look too deep into the situation because of the few days that we have had to work.'

But Poyet, who left Leeds last week to return to his former side, acknowledges assessing what needs to be done is not about to get any easier.

He said: 'Now we have another game on Thursday, another one on Sunday and then the international week - when you want to train the most the players are away.

'Where I will finish trying to put everything how we would like, we will have to see.

'We have to use the games to keep improving - we have to make sure that we do the right things during the game.'

Like Spurs, Boro have made their worst ever start to a Premier League season.

Just a place above the north London side in 16th, they are now seven games without a league win. But at least manager Gareth Southgate could take comfort from the end an alarming run of four consecutive defeats.

He said: 'I don't think we should have won. I think from being a goal down at half-time, we have got to be pleased with the result.

'Obviously we are in a spell where lots of things are going against us but we just have to dig in. It wasn't the ideal way to come in at half-time. I don't think there was much in the game before the goal.

'Then we tried to equalise straight away and there was a five-minute spell where we looked a bit ragged.

'Credit to the lads, at start of the second half I thought we created enough pressure and put Tottenham on the back foot, culminating in the goal which was a fantastic strike from Young.

'Then, unfortunately, we lost a bit of momentum because we ran out of fresh legs to put on.

'We know that we are going to get criticised because people will read it as an opportunity for us to get three points but I think everybody knows that Tottenham are in a false position with the players they've got.

'I don't think they'll stay there so it was by no means a banker for us. We have got a point out of it which pleases me and it gives us something to build on. We had to stop the run we were on.'

It was the visitors who looked the more likely to force a winner in the closing stages - much to the home supporters' frustration.

No-one was on hand to capitalise on a dangerous Jermaine Jenas ball across the face of goal and Chris Riggott could count himself fortunate moments later when Aaron Lennon's fierce shot cannoned off him only to land the other side of Mark Schwarzer's right post.

But Southgate defended his side afterwards and revealed their approach was something they had discussed prior to the game.

'We will never settle for what we've got but I think sometimes circumstances influence the players,' he said.

'We spoke beforehand about having no regrets and at times like this the players have to keep going forward and not be frightened to lose.

'We have to take a chance and be prepared to be bold, and if you are bold you might get more than you think or you deserve.'