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BERBATOV GIVES JOL A CHANCE TO DREAM

Berbatov celebrates with his teammates after scoring the second goal

Monday April 30,2007

By Graham Read

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MIDDLESBROUGH might be living dangerously by coasting into the summer but the threat of a curtailed close season is having the opposite effect on Tottenham.

The scoreline suggests this was close but the hosts were no match for a side intent on avoiding an early return for the Intertoto Cup.

Spurs could still match last season’s fifth-place finish, which would book them a UEFA Cup berth.

After celebrating his 100th Premiership game in charge, manager Martin Jol said: “We don’t even want to think about the Intertoto Cup.

“We had 52 points three years ago while last year it was 65. We won’t manage that now but we’re still competing for a place in Europe.”

With Dimitar Berbatov, UEFA Cup qualification should be the minimum ambition as he deserves to showcase his talents in the Champions League. He outfoxed Jonathan Woodgate to carve out the first of Robbie Keane’s two goals before volleying in a sublime second.

Aaron Lennon’s pass provided Keane with his 21st of the season, bringing him level with Berbatov in the Spurs scoring stakes.

Jermaine Jenas is keen on another crack at the UEFA Cup after a quarter-final exit.

“Maybe Manchester United apart, we’re probably the most entertaining side in the League although I’m sure the manager would like us to stop conceding as many as we are,” he said. “It’s massive for us to get into the UEFA Cup because we’ve had a taste and we want to get back in without having to qualify.”

Other than a 20-minute period either side of Mark Viduka’s goal, Boro were awful. A late header from Emanuel Pogatetz flattered them but Viduka said: “We should be much higher in the table.”

MIDDLESBROUGH 2
TOTTENHAM 3

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Schwarzer 8; Davies 3 (Arca 64, 7), Woodgate 6, Pogatetz 6, Taylor 4; Cattermole 4 (Johnson 40, 6), Rochemback 6, Boateng 5, Downing 6; Yakubu 4 (Lee 71, 5), Viduka 8. Booked: Yakubu. Goals: Viduka 66, Pogatetz 89.

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson 8; Chimbonda 6, King 7, Dawson 6, Rocha 5; Ghaly 7 (Lennon 72, 6), Jenas 8, Zokora 7, Malbranque 7; Berbatov 9, Keane 8. Booked: Malbranque. Goals: Keane 12, 83, Berbatov 47.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).