FA Cup: Tottenham 2 Reading 2
Tottenham and Reading served up another thriller in a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane, but it was a miserable afternoon for England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Robinson failed to deal with Stephen Hunt's free-kick for the opening goal in the FA Cup third-round clash and then failed to hold on to Leroy Lita's shot for Hunt's equaliser.
Dimitar Berbatov had scored twice between the errors, before Tom Huddlestone was dismissed late on.
It means a replay at the Madejski Stadium, which helps neither side in a period of congested fixtures - but fans will not mind if there is more entertainment.• Ramos cool on Robinson
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos had written in his programme notes that he wanted another victory over Reading but 'in a less stressful fashion'.
There were never going to be the 10 goals that both sides produced here in the Premier League clash last week - yet both sides seemed intent on attacking again.
The 6-4 thriller was not the only omen pointing towards an exciting game, with Steve Coppell fielding a reserve side as predicted.
There was no place for Dave Kitson, who earlier in the week suggested he was focused on the league rather than the cup. Fringe players such as Lita and Liam Rosenior were given a chance instead.
Spurs had new signing Chris Gunter on the bench, but Ramos was true to his word in picking his strongest side, with Ledley King and Michael Dawson reunited as a centre-back partnership.
The excitement started within two minutes when Hunt and Bobby Convey broke, with Lita having a glimpse of goal but Jermaine Jenas slid in and blocked on the edge of the area.
Spurs countered in the next move and Aaron Lennon skipped beyond Reading's defence, but Robbie Keane could not get on the end of the England winger's cross.
Keane was found again, this time by Berbatov after a mistake by Andre Bikey, but his finish slipped wide with the goal at his mercy.
Spurs have been woeful at defending set-pieces this season, although none of the defenders could be blamed for the opener in the 25th minute when Didier Zokora had fouled Shane Long around 40 yards out.
Hunt is no stranger to goal-line controversy after his strike against Sunderland - and his speculative free-kick dipping under the crossbar set off another debate.
Robinson should have dealt with it, even with Bikey closing in, yet the momentum dragged the England goalkeeper back and the assistant referee flagged for a goal. Replays could not determine whether the whole ball crossed the line.
Spurs' response was swift, with Berbatov grabbing the leveller in the 28th minute. Lennon's reverse pass found him beyond the Reading defence and the Bulgaria striker crashed in his finish off the crossbar and post.
It was then a similar end-to-end game that fans saw last week.
Berbatov went wide with a scissors kick from Jenas' cross. Then the midfielder latched onto Keane's flick, but Adam Federici was down well to save.
Jenas was sent through again in the last minute of the first half and Federici was down again smartly.
There was no shortage of action when play was restarted after the interval.
Spurs were ahead in the 48th minute when Keane was played behind the Reading defence but was blocked by Rosenior in the process of shooting.
Keane had missed his last two penalties, so Berbatov stepped up and beat Federici, despite the Australian diving the right way.
Keane had the ball in the net when he followed in Berbatov's shot from the edge of the area, but the Republic of Ireland striker was ruled offside.
He was close again just after the hour mark when Pascal Chimbonda cross from the right, but he was then replaced by Adel Taarabt.
Berbatov had the scent of a hat-trick when Chimbonda crossed again, but Hunt and Bikey were on the goal-line to deny him.
Reading continued to threaten and Robinson took out Dawson when clearing a long ball as Lita lurked.
Lita played a crucial role in Reading's equaliser, cutting in from left and shooting at Robinson's near post. Robinson could not hold and Hunt tapped in the rebound from a tight angle.
Huddlestone was brought on for Steed Malbranque and was involved in an ugly incident with Convey where he appeared to clash heads with his opponent. Referee Mark Clattenburg gave him a straight red card.
Ramos cool on Robinson
Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos is confident Fabio Capello will judge Paul Robinson on more than the miserable afternoon the goalkeeper had against Reading.
Although Robinson has been guilty of high-profile errors, he has also shown glimpses of a return to form, which Ramos believes Capello will take note of.
'It's up to Capello to say what he feels,' said Ramos. 'I don't think he is going to judge any player on one game, he's going to look at his characteristics overall.
'It's the team that lets in goals. Sometimes it's the responsibility of one player or another but at the end of the day the team concedes the goal.
'We've got a squad of 20-odd players and we have to look at them all and how they play.
'Some have good games, others not so good - we have to look at solutions to produce the best performance we can.'
Reading boss Coppell fielded a weakened starting XI but was impressed with the work of his reserves.
'I've got 20-odd pros that I consider part of the first-team squad,' he said.
'At any one time I could be called upon to use them - and every team in the Premier League uses more than 20 players in a season.
'I need to know that they are up to speed and ready to go. They showed that today.
'We got some lucky breaks but when we got a handle on the way we were playing, we made it difficult for them. It was never going to be easy for them.
'I thought we'd get a chance to snatch it and we got some good crosses in.
'But they are good players and for us to come back, they showed me in the best possible way - not through articles in the newspapers - that they have a commitment and want to play a full part in the season.'
Coppell insisted he would continue with his selection policy, even if Reading made the latter stages.
'Yes I would, 100%,' he confirmed.
The replay at the Madejski Stadium means Spurs' Premier League clash against Chelsea is set to be moved to next Saturday, two days earlier than planned.
Coppell is relishing another tie, adding: 'In many ways you don't want another game but you are not going to be physically tested with the workload - it is well within us.
'An extra game is no big deal for us. We'll have to have a different game plan at home, we'll have to take the game to them more.'
Robinson failed to deal with Stephen Hunt's free-kick for the opening goal in the FA Cup third-round clash and then failed to hold on to Leroy Lita's shot for Hunt's equaliser.
Dimitar Berbatov had scored twice between the errors, before Tom Huddlestone was dismissed late on.
It means a replay at the Madejski Stadium, which helps neither side in a period of congested fixtures - but fans will not mind if there is more entertainment.• Ramos cool on Robinson
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos had written in his programme notes that he wanted another victory over Reading but 'in a less stressful fashion'.
There were never going to be the 10 goals that both sides produced here in the Premier League clash last week - yet both sides seemed intent on attacking again.
The 6-4 thriller was not the only omen pointing towards an exciting game, with Steve Coppell fielding a reserve side as predicted.
There was no place for Dave Kitson, who earlier in the week suggested he was focused on the league rather than the cup. Fringe players such as Lita and Liam Rosenior were given a chance instead.
Spurs had new signing Chris Gunter on the bench, but Ramos was true to his word in picking his strongest side, with Ledley King and Michael Dawson reunited as a centre-back partnership.
The excitement started within two minutes when Hunt and Bobby Convey broke, with Lita having a glimpse of goal but Jermaine Jenas slid in and blocked on the edge of the area.
Spurs countered in the next move and Aaron Lennon skipped beyond Reading's defence, but Robbie Keane could not get on the end of the England winger's cross.
Keane was found again, this time by Berbatov after a mistake by Andre Bikey, but his finish slipped wide with the goal at his mercy.
Spurs have been woeful at defending set-pieces this season, although none of the defenders could be blamed for the opener in the 25th minute when Didier Zokora had fouled Shane Long around 40 yards out.
Hunt is no stranger to goal-line controversy after his strike against Sunderland - and his speculative free-kick dipping under the crossbar set off another debate.
Robinson should have dealt with it, even with Bikey closing in, yet the momentum dragged the England goalkeeper back and the assistant referee flagged for a goal. Replays could not determine whether the whole ball crossed the line.
Spurs' response was swift, with Berbatov grabbing the leveller in the 28th minute. Lennon's reverse pass found him beyond the Reading defence and the Bulgaria striker crashed in his finish off the crossbar and post.
It was then a similar end-to-end game that fans saw last week.
Berbatov went wide with a scissors kick from Jenas' cross. Then the midfielder latched onto Keane's flick, but Adam Federici was down well to save.
Jenas was sent through again in the last minute of the first half and Federici was down again smartly.
There was no shortage of action when play was restarted after the interval.
Spurs were ahead in the 48th minute when Keane was played behind the Reading defence but was blocked by Rosenior in the process of shooting.
Keane had missed his last two penalties, so Berbatov stepped up and beat Federici, despite the Australian diving the right way.
Keane had the ball in the net when he followed in Berbatov's shot from the edge of the area, but the Republic of Ireland striker was ruled offside.
He was close again just after the hour mark when Pascal Chimbonda cross from the right, but he was then replaced by Adel Taarabt.
Berbatov had the scent of a hat-trick when Chimbonda crossed again, but Hunt and Bikey were on the goal-line to deny him.
Reading continued to threaten and Robinson took out Dawson when clearing a long ball as Lita lurked.
Lita played a crucial role in Reading's equaliser, cutting in from left and shooting at Robinson's near post. Robinson could not hold and Hunt tapped in the rebound from a tight angle.
Huddlestone was brought on for Steed Malbranque and was involved in an ugly incident with Convey where he appeared to clash heads with his opponent. Referee Mark Clattenburg gave him a straight red card.
Ramos cool on Robinson
Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos is confident Fabio Capello will judge Paul Robinson on more than the miserable afternoon the goalkeeper had against Reading.
Although Robinson has been guilty of high-profile errors, he has also shown glimpses of a return to form, which Ramos believes Capello will take note of.
'It's up to Capello to say what he feels,' said Ramos. 'I don't think he is going to judge any player on one game, he's going to look at his characteristics overall.
'It's the team that lets in goals. Sometimes it's the responsibility of one player or another but at the end of the day the team concedes the goal.
'We've got a squad of 20-odd players and we have to look at them all and how they play.
'Some have good games, others not so good - we have to look at solutions to produce the best performance we can.'
Reading boss Coppell fielded a weakened starting XI but was impressed with the work of his reserves.
'I've got 20-odd pros that I consider part of the first-team squad,' he said.
'At any one time I could be called upon to use them - and every team in the Premier League uses more than 20 players in a season.
'I need to know that they are up to speed and ready to go. They showed that today.
'We got some lucky breaks but when we got a handle on the way we were playing, we made it difficult for them. It was never going to be easy for them.
'I thought we'd get a chance to snatch it and we got some good crosses in.
'But they are good players and for us to come back, they showed me in the best possible way - not through articles in the newspapers - that they have a commitment and want to play a full part in the season.'
Coppell insisted he would continue with his selection policy, even if Reading made the latter stages.
'Yes I would, 100%,' he confirmed.
The replay at the Madejski Stadium means Spurs' Premier League clash against Chelsea is set to be moved to next Saturday, two days earlier than planned.
Coppell is relishing another tie, adding: 'In many ways you don't want another game but you are not going to be physically tested with the workload - it is well within us.
'An extra game is no big deal for us. We'll have to have a different game plan at home, we'll have to take the game to them more.'
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