Berbatov bags a brace for Spurs but Reading stay in the Hunt after Robinson's blunder

If Dave Kitson's comments about 'not giving two sh**s' suggested Steve Coppell's team were ready to lay down and surrender, the reality was vibrantly different.

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Hunt was one of only two regular firstteamers selected by Coppell but he and the fringe players making up the side at White Hart Lane performed rather better than their peers had done the previous week in the 10-goal thriller at the same venue.

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His name has been dragged through the sewer since his notorious collision with Petr Cech last season and there is undoubtedly some mischief in his make-up, but Hunt played like a whirling dervish to inspire his side.

There are indications that he would welcome a move to a bigger club but for the time being he gives his all for Reading.

The scorer of both his side's goals on Saturday, he said: "Everybody has their opinion about the FA Cup but we just want to enjoy it and go as far as we can. We don't go into games to lose. Once we cross that white line all we think about is getting a result.

"Kits was only trying to state the obvious — staying in the Premier League is the most important thing for this club. We never said we would give less than 100 per cent and we never said the FA Cup doesn't matter. Perhaps Kits did, but he knew he wasn't going to play so it was easy for him to say that."

Coppell's team selection illustrated where his priorities lie but he still believes Kitson's choice of language gave the wrong impression.

The Reading boss said: "It was not a good statement to make but Kits is a terrific footballer and says what is in the front of his mind.

"He needs to be more circumspect with the things he says. That was a headline waiting to happen. There was a film with Jim Carrey about honesty. Sometimes you have to bite your tongue. You can be honest with your views without imposing them on everybody else."

Coppell felt no embarrassment about fielding his second string.

"It is no disrespect to the competition. I am doing what is best for my club and it gives players who haven't played for six-to- eight weeks a real opportunity against some of the country's best players," he explained.

If some of those players had finished with their usual clinical skill, this game might have been over within half an hour.

Robbie Keane was the principal culprit. Paul Robinson was again at the centre of a turning point in the game, having been adjudged by a referee's assistant to have carried Hunt's shot over his line to provide Reading with a first-half lead. TV pictures proved inconclusive.

The England keeper himself was adamant, saying: "I can't see how you could possibly give a goal. I have seen it eight or nine times on television and there was not one angle where you could say it was in. They were very quick to give it."

Robinson has taken more than his share of vitriol over the last 12 months and said: "I don't like it when it gets personal. But this was harsh. I feel my form has been good but things don't seem to be going my way at the moment. That is the life and times of Paul Robinson at the minute.

"I have been in favour of video replays for some time. In a matter of seconds that could have been sorted out."

In all other aspects of his game — shot stopping and distribution in particular — Robinson could not be faulted and Hunt was unreserved in his admiration for the England keeper, despite being convinced he had scored a legitimate goal.

Hunt said: "He has been doing really well. He has let a few in recently from set pieces but he has players in front of him whose job is to defend. I think people should get off his back, get behind him instead."

Spurs survived the last seven minutes with 10 men after Tom Huddlestone was sent off four minutes after coming on for jutting his head at Bobby Convey.

Despite scoring both Spurs goals — the second from a penalty — Berbatov looked disinterested at times, perhaps an indication that Manchester United or Chelsea figure in his plans.

As Hunt says: "He doesn't look bothered half the time but he's as strong as an ox and a class finisher. He and Keane make a terrific partnership."