Jol bemoans slow-starting Spurs

Jol reflects on Spurs' exit

Tottenham boss Martin Jol blamed his side's Uefa Cup quarter-final exit to Sevilla on their poor start.

Spurs were two goals down after seven minutes before strikes from Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon resulted in a second-half fightback.

Jol said: "Their two goals rocked us and shocked us. It was a big struggle as we knew we had to score four goals.

"All we could do was pick ourselves up and play for the crowd and we went out of the tie with our heads held high."

News conference: Tottenham manager Martin Jol

We have tended to give away cheap goals this season Martin Jol

For all their poor start, Spurs' rousing second-half fightback produced enough chances for an unlikely victory.

Defender Michael Dawson and striker Dimitar Berbatov both missed good late opportunities and Jol said: "If Dawson had scored a third goal it might have been a great story.

"We said at half time we had to go out with pride and we did that, we won the second half 2-0.

"They're a good team, but it doesn't mean you have to go out to them," said Jol, who was still sore about the controversial first-leg penalty that gave Sevilla the advantage.

"If you consider the penalty awarded against us last week we were unlucky but we could have done better today.

"They were the team of the year last year but I still feel we would've had a bigger chances if we don't give away goals like we did for the first one at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham put us under pressure but I never really felt we were in danger of losing the game Sevilla coach Juande Ramos

"We have tended to give away cheap goals this season."

Sevilla are one of three Spanish teams to reach the last four of the competition - and their coach Juande Ramos was delighted with their progress.

"It says a lot about the strength of Spanish football that we have three clubs in the semi-finals," said Ramos.

"It's going to be tough for us to get to the final again.

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And he felt that his team were worthy winners against Tottenham.

"After their second goal we managed to get control of the game again," added Ramos.

"They put us under pressure but I never really felt we were in danger of losing the game. Kanoute was magnificent and caused them a lot of problems."