Martin Jol wore a contented smile after we progressed to the fourth round of the
Carling Cup with a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
The
manager's substitutions played a key role in the victory in front of another
30,000-plus crowd at the Lane.
On top throughout, we simply couldn't find a
goal that our play deserved with Brad Jones in fine form in the Boro goal and
when he was beaten, Jermain Defoe saw his header come back off the
crossbar.
With the visitors proving a tough nut to crack, Martin threw
the dice after 69 minutes, throwing on Robbie Keane and Didier Zokora for Defoe
and Jermaine Jenas.
It took a little over three minutes for the change to pay
dividends as Keane lost marker George Boateng on the left
touchline before releasing the perfect pass with the outside of his foot
into the path of the onrushing Gareth Bale. The Welsh starlet raced through,
skipped past Jones and slid the ball home.
Two minutes later and it was game
over as Paul Robinson gathered a cross and spotted Aaron Lennon on the run,
drilling an 80-yard clearance into his path. Lennon turned Fabio Rochemback
inside out before chipping the ball in for Toim Huddlestone to head
home.
Martin reflected: "I was very happy, especially with the first half,
but on the other hand you have to score goals and that was the
problem.
"Gareth Bale scored a very good goal. He played left-back but got
forward, attacked the space for the goal and it was terrific to see. That was
his third goal for the club.
"The second goal came soon after and then you
feel relieved - we needed the win and we wanted to go through to the next
round."
Martin was naturally asked about his substitutions as the Lane
faithful certainly made their feelings known on taking off Defoe.
"You can
either leave it as it is and wait or make a decision," he responded.
"I was
happy with the team but in the second half I didn't feel we were creating as
much and that's when you have to change it."
Asked if he considered it a
'brave' decision, Martin added: "It's not a brave decision, just a decision you
have to make. You make them all the time. I want to win, I just think of the
team and everyone is equal to me. They are all important and that's what I tell
them.
"Robbie came on, had an impact and all I concentrate on is the
result.
"Didier Zokora also came on and did well, Teemu Tainio has played the
last two games and did well and that's the development of the team. I feel we
are getting there."
Linked here: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/happyjol260907.html
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