Tottenham Hotspur are currently 1-0 up at against relegation-battling Reading at half time in the Premiership clash at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Juande Ramos’ side controlled the proceedings and created number of opportunities with their fluent-passing game and Steve Coppell’s men were on the receiving end. However, the Royals have managed to stay in the game with keeper Marcus Hahnemann making a couple of good saves.

Spurs took the lead in the 16th minute as Robbie Keane netted his 23rd goal of the season after a fine run that was spotted by Darren Bent, who cut inside from the right side to make the assist with the rival defence at sea.

Hahnemann, who had earlier blocked Bent’s effort, came up with a fine save as he dived to his left to palm away a curling free-kick from Keane half way through the first half.

The Royals had a lucky escape as Steed Malbranque was pulled up for an off-side when it appeared that the Spurs midfielder had timed his run perfectly when Keane had made a through pass and scored a good goal.

Reading had rare attacking moves, and found defender Jonathan Woodgate in particular, hard to get the better of. However, in the 28th minute, Leroy Lita blasted wide from a tight angle. Soon after, Michael Dawson cleared the ball for a corner as Kevin Doyle threatened from the left side.

Stephen Hunt took the ball off Keane as the Spurs skipper was just about ready to pull the trigger from the box in the 36th minute.

Liam Rosenior made a vital block against a Keane shot in the penalty area after Spurs put together a fluent move in the 41st minute.

Just a minute before the half time interval, a good delivery off a free-kick from right by Nicky Shorey was wasted as no Royals player could get onto the end of it.

Reading Team: Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Ivar Ingmarsson, Maichael Duberry, Liam Rosenior, Andre Bikey, James Harper, Stephen Hunt, Dave Kitson, Leroy Lita, Kevin Doyle..

Reading Substitutes: John Oster, Adan federici, Kalifa Cisse, Shane Long, Marek Matejovsky.

Tottenham Hotspur Team: Radek Cerny, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson, Alan Hutton, Gilberto, Jermaine Jenas, Steed Malbranque, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone, Robbie Keane, Darren Bent.

Tottenham Hotspur Substitutes: Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Jamie O'Hara, Kevin Prince-Boateng, Adel Taarabt.