Young’s blast has Ramos lost for words

This Poyet dutifully did, as well as adding a plea for patience from Spurs fans who might have expected a quick fix to the shortcomings Ramos has inherited from Martin Jol's regime. Nothing could be lost in translation as Poyet said: "It's going to take a few weeks. Without a doubt, we need time."

Gareth Southgate might well say the same. He was hoping for three points that would help justify the declaration of support from his chairman. Steve Gibson might be 100 per cent behind his manager but Boro's fans are not so sure.

Ending a run of four successive league defeats was some consolation but Southgate was typically forthright in his assessment of the game: "I don't think we deserved to win," he said. "When you go behind at half-time, you settle for a point."

But he accepted criticism was inevitable bearing in mind the team's precarious position. "We've got to just dig in," he said. "Credit to the boys today for the way they came back. That's what we have to do over the next few weeks until we get some of our injured players back.We've got to dig in.'

As it turned out, had it not been for Young there would have been precious little to remember in a game that was easily forgettable. The defender, who achieved his dream when he signed for Spurs as a 10-year-old,was at fault in the build-up to the Darren Bent goal that gave Spurs a deserved interval lead. But made up for that with an equaliser of stunning power.

As Poyet said: 'We thought our goal would have been enough to win the match until Young's exceptional goal.'

Ramos sprung a surprise by leaving Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane on the bench. The Spaniard's team choice was surely welcomed by Southgate after he was forced to make a late defensive change when Jonathan Woodgate pulled out with a leg injury sustained in training yesterday.

Carelessness almost cost Spurs dearly in the fourth minute when Tuncay Sanli's persistence took Middlesbrough within inches of opening the scoring. The Turkey striker won a ball that looked like going over the right touchline when Young-Pyo Lee and Younes Kaboul seemed happy to allow it to trickle out.

Tuncay found Gary O'Neil and the Boro skipper's cross flashed in front of goal with Stewart goal with Stewart Downing diving in just too late to connect.

Mark Schwarzer had little to do early on but his sojourn was rudely interrupted when a series of defensive lapses led to Bent justifying his manager's selection. Pascal Chimbonda robbed Young and he quickly found Bent, who cut inside Chris Riggott before smashing a shot wide of Schwarzer's despairing dive.

Spurs remained on the offensive after the break but Middlesbrough suddenly produced an equaliser out of nothing. Paul Robinson did well to push away a header from Jeremie Aliadiere from a Downing free-kick but Spurs failed to clear their lines from the resulting corner and Young crashed in an unstoppable right-footer from 25 yards.

"Our target from now on must be to win every match," said Poyet, although Southgate's verdict on Spurs has to be more realistic. "Everybody knows that with the players they've got, Spurs are in a false position," he said.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Young, Riggott, Wheater, Taylor; O'Neil, Cattermole, Rochemback (Boateng 77min), Downing; Sanli (Hutchinson 72), Aliadiere (Lee 78). Subs (not used): Turnbull, Hines. Booked: Lee.

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Young-Pyo Lee; Lennon, Boateng (Zokora 63), Jenas, Malbranque; Bent (Berbatov 58), Defoe (Keane 58). Subs (not used): Cerny, Stalteri.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).