Pleat case for job falters on home front

The natives were restless at White Hart Lane once more as acting manager David Pleat's unbeaten run came to an end against Bolton.

The Spurs faithful had started to believe that Pleat was, after six matches, the answer to their managerial problems.

But during a week in which Spurs were largely second best to Middlesbrough, West Ham and Bolton, they are now as undecided as Pleat's fellow board members must be.

A draw, a win and a defeat from three home games might seem a fair return but those who have endured all 300 uninspiring minutes will know only too well that Spurs have been well below their best.

The growing disenchantment with a team whose technique and ability to score has deserted them was best demonstrated by a verbal spat between centre half Dean Richards and one unhappy supporter at the end of the game. The unsavoury incident was spawned by a torrid afternoon as Bolton's Jay-Jay Okocha ran Tottenham ragged.

Okocha was once offered to Tottenham on a free transfer from Paris St Germain but previous manager Glenn Hoddle wasn't interested. The Bolton star hit the bar three times and Spurs simply had no answer to his pace, trickery and work-rate.

The Nigerian said: "I made an indication I would love to come to Tottenham but it didn't work out. I didn't talk to Glenn. My agent offered me to him but nothing came of it. I don't know why."

Kevin Nolan sealed a deserved victory for Bolton in the 73rd minute. Kasey Keller spilled a shot into his path and he stabbed the ball home from six yards. It left Pleat's credentials in the spotlight once again.

For once he didn't have any answers or bizarre phrases to delight the media. With just one goal in three games since top scorer Frederic Kanoute was sidelined for up to two months with ankle ligament damage, Pleat knows the next few weeks will be difficult.

He said: "We were second best and we are not scoring. Usually you have to have a front player who is very good at holding the ball up. We will just have to work hard to create chances and take them.

"Kanoute has a presence up front but we have to be patient with him. We are treating him as well as we can."

Keller said: "We didn't defend well, we didn't pass well and it was a bad day all round. Spurs have ridden their luck in recent games and we got punished. We miss Fredi but we will find that spark from somewhere."

Next up, by the way, is the small matter of a trip to Premiership leaders Arsenal.