Jol's homegrown squad show their class

Reading 0 Tottenham Hotspur

With Defoe, Mido, Robbie Keane and Fredi Kanoute still all at White Hart Lane, Jol must again make four into two work without upsetting any of his prized quartet. As it was, today saw Defoe and Mido start, with Keane and Kanoute left out of the squad and expected to start tomorrow's match at Aldershot.

Tottenham named a strong line-up, just as they will tomorrow, a measure of how their rebuilding has been a success over the past 12 months. Although Reading's new forward Leroy Lita looked threatening, Tottenham took only five minutes to move ahead, with Defoe and new winger Wayne Routledge combining to set up Mido who coolly fired past Marcus Hahnemann.

Routledge was a persistent menace to the Championship side, but they had Steve Sidwell - formerly of Arsenal - asking his own questions of the Tottenham defence. The Royals midfielder was not shy when it came to shooting from long range, while he also struck a volley against the Tottenham post just before half-time.

Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny collided with the post as he made a vain effort to reach the ball and had to be replaced. The second Tottenham goal arrived in stoppage time at the end of the first half, Defoe's long-range effort deflecting off defender Ibrahima Sonko on the way past Hahnemann. Andy Reid, Defoe and Pedro Mendes troubled Hahnemann early in the second half, while Sidwell had a headed goal disallowed.

Defoe looked hungry for a second goal and was denied again by Reading's busy goalkeeper, before Reading hit woodwork for the second time in the game, American midfielder Bobby Convey firing a free-kick against an upright.