Jol so proud of Spurs

Fifth place in the Premiership earns them £7.7million in prize money and gives Martin Jol another summer of head scratching, wondering how to close the gap on the big four.

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Last season ended in controversy when stomach upsets, allegedly caused by some dodgy lasagne on the eve of their defeat by West Ham, might have cost them a Champions League place. But yesterday there was only pride from Jol as Spurs sealed another UEFA Cup spot after a gruelling 59-game season.

"It means the world to us," he said after the final victory over Manchester City. "We have finished fifth and our only defeat in our last eight Premiership games was against Chelsea, when we played 32 hours after a European tie.

"We were the only team to finish with three games in six days and that showed in the second half. But we showed resilience and character and we had a few heroes out there. I am very proud of them. It's probably our best season for 20 years."

Spurs limped over the line, puffing hard against a City team who launched a spirited fightback for under-pressure manager Stuart Pearce.

Pearce's first game in caretaker charge of the club was a 2-1 defeat at Spurs in March 2005 and after an identical result yesterday, his future looks increasingly bleak as takeover rumours gain momentum.

Early goals from Robbie Keane, in his 200th Tottenham game, and Dimitar Berbatov put the home team two up in just over half-anhour. But what looked like being a Spurs procession became a City fightback.

Pearce claimed both Tottenham's goals were offside and was pleased with the performance of his players at White Hart Lane. He also insisted he is still the man to lead them into next season.

The City boss roared and cajoled from his technical area as Emile Mpenza pulled one back with a simple header from Dietmar Hamann's cross.

Paul Robinson also produced a miraculous save to deny Darius Vassell and Michael Johnson fluffed a good chance before a strong second half from the Blues.

Tottenham hung on to the lead, however, and would have extended their advantage again six minutes from time if Jermain Defoe had not missed a penalty.

Again Pearce was unhappy with the decision by referee Steve Bennett and he seemed to have a case. Richard Dunne's challenge on the excellent Didier Zokora was just outside the penalty area and probably wasn't a foul.

Justice appeared to be done when Andreas Isaksson saved to his left and Defoe smashed the rebound over.

Pearce and the City bench had been furious when Bennett allowed Keane's ninth-minute opener to stand. They thought the Irishman was offside but the flag stayed down as Jermaine Jenas chipped the ball to him. Keane waited for the ball to drop over his right shoulder and drove a half-volley through the legs of Isaksson.

It was a skilful finish and as Pearce waved an imaginary flag at the linesman, replays suggested right back Nedum Onouha had just played Keane onside.

City's task was made harder when an injury to Sylvain Distin forced a major reshuffle less than half an hour into the game. Spurs went two up before they had reorganised properly.

Onouha stretched to cut out a Berbatov pass to Aaron Lennon but the rebound fell kindly for the Bulgarian to take a touch before drilling a right-footer into the bottom corner. It was the 23rd goal of the season for the man said to coveted by Manchester United and who collected Tottenham's player of the season award after the final whistle.

City were the best team after the break, with Robinson clawing looping Mpenza effort out of the top corner, but finish the season with wins in six and a miserable goal tally of 29.

Summing up City's season, Pearce said: "We have failed to score enough goals. You can see a direct comparison between the teams when Spurs bring Defoe off the bench.

"They've got Keane who has scored 20-odd and Berbatov who has 20-odd."

Jol's job is now to hang on to his top players like Berbatov, Lennon and Ledley King. The manager said: We are a rich club, why should we sell our best players? Berbatov is something special. He is one of the best No 9s in England. Some of the things he does are amazing.

"I tell him how popular he is. Maybe I've told him a bit more lately but he is a sensitive guy and there's no reason for him to think differently.'