Jol rues missed chances
Martin Jol is under real pressure at Tottenham
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Saturday, 15, Sep 2007 08:55
Tottenham manager Martin Jol rued his team's poor finishing after they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane in today's north London derby.
The home side led through a Gareth Bale free-kick and had chances to double their lead, but it was Arsenal who were more clinical with their finishing and Cesc Fabregas and a double from Emmanuel Adebayor won the game for the Gunners.
Dimitar Berbatov had a chance cleared off the line by Gael Clichy and on another occasion was through on goal but was disposed by Kolo Toure when he really should have scored. Darren Bent also wasted a golden opportunity at 2-1 when he scuffed a shot wide from ten yards out.
"The difference between them and us was their clinical finishing," said Jol. "At 1-0 up we could have scored two goals, then you make it easy for yourselves. At 1-1 we could have scored again and at 2-1 down, we should have scored.
"We were unfortunate but it's a confidence thing as well - we didn't have the confidence to score but they did.
"All credit to them, they scored great goals but maybe in the future we'll avoid them, like what Toure did to Berbatov and Clichy on the line. With Darren Bent, it was just miss timing. It's all about the minor details," added Jol.
Today's result adds more pressure on Jol, whose team have only four points from six games and are 17th in the Premier League.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy wanted Champions League football for next season and he looked less than happy after the game. But Jol remained defiant and said he was confident of getting his team out of trouble.
"We need a bit of success and when we get success, it will give us more confidence because the self-belief is there," stressed Jol.
"I have to stay positive and if you see the players' commitment, there is no problem. The only thing we have to do is get results - like we did before."