Old boys show little sympathy for Spurs' plight

Portsmouth 2 Tottenham 0: Two former employees came back to haunt Tottenham Hotspur at Fratton Park this afternoon leaving them…

Portsmouth 2 Tottenham 0:Two former employees came back to haunt Tottenham Hotspur at Fratton Park this afternoon leaving them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table. Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and one-time White Hart Lane trainee Peter Crouch grabbed the goals as Portsmouth put their heavy defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea behind them.

Spurs, now without a win in six league games, fell behind to a Defoe penalty in the 34th minute after Jermaine Jenas handled when attempting to clear a cross into the box.

The visitors had a spot-kick appeal of their own denied by referee Mike Dean when Lassana Diarra, later sent off for two yellow cards, clearly appeared to handle substitute Aaron Lennon's 53rd minute cross.

Portsmouth wrapped up the points when Crouch headed home the round after Heurelho Gomes parried Armand Traore's 67th-minute shot.

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Tottenham manager Juande Ramos was defiant afterwards despite fans chanting "You don't know what you're doing" as his fate was sealed.

Speaking through an interpreter, he added: "We speak regularly and everyone is aware of our delicate position.

"Whether I survive is something for the chairman and the board to decide but I'm not hurt (by the fans' abuse). What hurts is not winning matches."

"We are in a complicated situation and nobody seems to help us when we need it", insisted the Spaniard. "Portsmouth scored from a penalty today but in the same kind of incident we were denied a penalty - the same as against Wigan last week. In critical moments we are not getting these decisions."