Tottenham Hotspur pushed Reading into the relegation zone with a 1-0 win 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, but failed to add to the tally with Robbie Keane’s first half strike proving to be the winner. It was the North London club’s first win in six games.

Steve Coppell’s men meanwhile, fought hard in the second half, but could not get anything from their final home game and will play Derby County away in the concluding game of the season next Sunday fighting to survive in the top-flight while also keeping an eye on other results.

The only goal of the evening came in the 16th minute as 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.

Marcus 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.

Shorey made a crucial block in the early stages of the second half, thwarting Bent after Keane, Malbranque and Jenas had combined in the build-up.

The home side showing more spirit from the start of the second half, came up with a nice move but Lita’s effort from left side of the box, could not escape the clutches of Radek Cerny.

Andre Bikey’s powerful shot goal-wards from the top of the box took a big deflection of Didier Zokora and went out of play after Lita had cut-back for the onrushing defender near the hour-mark.

Substitute Marek Matejovsky almost scored the equaliser in the 68th minute, but his low strike from the top of the box was narrowly wide of the left post.

The Royals upped the ante and put pressure on the rivals, but Rosenior’s shot was blocked by Dawson and in the patient build-up, James Harper’s through pass was out of the reach of Lita.

Spurs substitute Jamie O’Hara got a move going and set up Bent on the left. However, the England striker saw his grounder hit the inside of the post and cannon back in play.

Cerny was called into action in the 80th minute as Ivar Ingmarsson unleashed a long-ranger but failed to beat the Spurs custodian.

The Spurs keeper was kept on his toes as the Royals continued to knock on the door and Dave Kitson’s strike was blocked with four minutes from time, followed by a fantastic fully-stretched save off Rosenior’s shot deflected off Woodgate.

Teams:

Reading: Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Ivar Ingmarsson, Michael Duberry, Liam Rosenior (John Oster 8), Andre Bikey (Marek Matejovsky 65), James Harper, Stephen Hunt, Dave Kitson, Leroy Lita, Kevin Doyle (Shane Long 80).

Substitutes not used: Adan Federici, Kalifa Cisse.

Tottenham Hotspur: Radek Cerny, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Dawson, Alan Hutton, Gilberto, Jermaine Jenas, Steed Malbranque, Didier Zokora, Tom Huddlestone (Jamie O'Hara 61), Robbie Keane (Kevin Prince-Boateng 77), Darren Bent.

Substitutes not used: Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Adel Taarabt.