We had a number of breakaway chances in the first half that didn't come to much.
It was not a fluent or flowing half from Tottenham's point of view, passes were going astray and there was a lack of cohesion in the build-up. It was Steve Bruce's side showing more purpose as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark and the home side will have been happier overall with their work in the first half.
But after Aaron Lennon put the visitors in front, Spurs showed a clinical edge as Robbie Keane bagged the crucial second goal.
Spurs starting line-up: Stephen Kelly returned to start in place of Stalteri who was dropped. Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe started so Tainio and Mido dropped down to the bench.
Martin Jol: "I am obviously pleased by the result. It was never likely to be a great spectacle, given the need of both teams for the points but it was a terrific win in the end. It is a cliche but we had to focus on our own game and get back to winning ways. Last season we ended up with 52 points and we have reached that total again - that is great progress we have made. The lads have shown plenty of character."
"It wasn't nice playing later knowing all the results and knowing that a win was the only thing that mattered. The first half was pretty scrappy. They had one chance when Emile Heskey got past Ledley King and went through down the right flank and got his cross in. I thought Michael Dawson did very well, because often that would end up in an own goal and he didn't do that. They wouldn't let us play our game or build up attacks, but it was okay because we kept a clean sheet. The month of February was very disappointing because we gave easy goals away."
"In the second half they couldn't pressurise us any more and it was a time when we started playing. We had a different balance to our side and used our pace up front and I think we became a bit better than them. Aaron Lennon has just got better and better with every game. At the start of the season we knew it would be a challenge, Jermaine Jenas needed to score goals which was not a big feature of his time at Newcastle. He had the potential to do it and he has delivered. Lennon is the same."
Aaron Lennon: "It was brilliant for me to get my first goal and in such an important game as well because all the other clubs around us also won. It was one of those games that was a bit scrappy and it was a goal we needed. It was a release for me and everybody really. The lads had kept on saying before that I would score, Ledders said 'today you are going to score' and I just kept saying 'hopefully, hopefully'. My touch wasn't quite right and it got stuck underneath me a bit. I thought it might have got blocked if I hit it first time so I came inside and, lucky enough for me, it slotted nicely into the far corner."
Michael Dawson: "It was a tough battle but we knew it was going to be difficult and luckily enough for us we stood up to the test and came out on top. Two good goals settled it - a first for Lenny and Keano again, and we kept a clean sheet that we haven't had for a while."
Stephen Kelly: "It was great to be in the team and the fact that I played right-back helped. Things had gone well in the reserves so there was no point getting worked up beforehand. I just wanted to go out there and play my game which was first of all to defend and help us keep a clean sheet, and when I got the opportunity, try and get forward."
Ledley King: "I thought we handled the little bit of added pressure, knowing Arsenal, Bolton and Blackburn had won earlier in the day, and we went out there and put on a good professional display."
Steve Bruce (BCFC): "Against a very good Tottenham side we didn't get the basics right. Technically maybe we were not good enough to beat Spurs."
Source: Official sites