Jol looking to Tottenham spirit

Aug 14 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

TOTTENHAM manager Martin Jol believes his side’s fighting spirit will help them quickly forget their dismal opening-day defeat at Sunderland when they face Everton at White Hart Lane tonight.

Jol’s men looked toothless as they fell to Michael Chopra’s injury-time winner at the Stadium of Light and he admitted they would have to improve in every department.

Jol said: "There was a good sign in the dressing room because they were all blaming each other. The most important thing is that we pick ourselves up because it is a long, tough season."

Jol has insisted his side are targeting a top four place this season but he knows the importance of a good start after last season’s run of just one win in their first six games left them playing catch- up.

Jol added: "We had a bad start last season and we lost to Bolton on the opening day but we picked ourselves up and that is what we have got to do again now. We have got to do better in midfield, up front and from the flanks as well.

"If you get a good start you have a very good foundation and you can build on that. Last year we had six new players in the line- up and it was different and we needed some time."

Despite Jol’s summer transfer market activity he included only one new signing in the starting line-up at Sunderland with Younes Kaboul making an encouraging debut in central defence.

Kaboul became the Premier League’s third-most expensive uncapped player when he joined Spurs for £8million in the summer and Jol believes his opening-day experience will have served him well.

Jol added: "Kaboul has proved to me he is a quality player and it is certainly a wake-up call for him because he proved he can play well at the back and it doesn’t mean anything.

"We have got to prepare him. We’ve warned him what to expect and until now he is doing well. He is strong, quick and good in the air. He is a very good asset and I feel there will be no problem with him."

Jol will give a late test to Michael Dawson, who missed out on the Sunderland game after turning an ankle in training, but is still definitely without the likes of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale.

Jol will consider shuffling his embarrassment of riches up front with Dimitar Berbatov looking strangely subdued in the North East and £16.5million man Darren Bent set for his first start.