IF you listened to most London-based pundits, you would think that the world and his wife were conspiring against Tottenham boss Martin Jol. Try telling Gareth Southgate this morning, though, that the Dutchman is the most put-upon manager in the Premier League.

As if the loss of his three leading strikers was not enough to contend with at White Hart Lane, the Middlesbrough manager was also on the wrong end of a controversial refereeing decision that did much to determine the outcome of last night's Carling Cup third-round tie.

Having mounted a spirited rearguard action for more than 70 minutes, and wasted the best chance of the game, when Chris Riggott blazed over on the stroke of half-time, Southgate's patched-up side had looked like pushing Jol closer towards the exit door in north London.

Everything changed, however, on the failure to raise a flag. Gareth Bale was allowed to advance on goal despite Aaron Lennon standing in a blatantly offside position, Brad Jones was powerless to prevent the Wales international scoring, and Boro's Carling Cup campaign was abruptly at an end.

That Tom Huddlestone promptly added a well-taken second while the visitors were still licking their wounds merely added to the sense of unease. There was no disgrace in defeat for the Teessiders, only a simmering sense of injustice.

In hindsight, of course, it is possible to argue that last night's game was lost on Saturday. Injuries to Mido, Tuncay Sanli and Julio Arca robbed Boro of their three leading attackers and meant Southgate's side lacked the kind of cutting edge that might have made a difference.

The Boro boss must have cast an envious eye at a Spurs line-up that included Dimitar Berbatov, arguably the Premier League's most impressive striker last season, and Jermain Defoe, a player who started as if he had a point to prove.

Defoe's ninth-minute through ball sent Jermaine Jenas galloping clear of the Boro defence, only for the former Newcastle midfielder to screw a hastily-hit shot well wide, and he was almost on the scoresheet himself three minutes later.

This time it was Finnish midfielder Teemu Tainio supplying the ammunition but, while Defoe reacted quicker than either Riggott or David Wheater, Brad Jones was quickly off his line to smother the danger.

Jones was an active participant in the majority of the first half - the Australian produced a particularly sharp save to block a powerful Younes Kaboul header - as Boro's midfielders struggled to take advantage of their numerical advantage in the central third.

Fabio Rochemback forced Paul Robinson into a scrambling full-stretch save with a 30-yard daisy-cutter, but with both George Boateng and Stewart Downing struggling to throw off their defensive duties in order to support Lee in attack, the visitors spent most of their time hustling and harrying their opponents.

They did so with commendable commitment - especially the constantly-involved Rochemback - although they would still have been behind on the half-hour mark had Tainio not directed a 12-yard header straight at Jones.

And they would definitely have been in arrears had Jones not displayed impressive agility eight minutes later. Defoe's header appeared to be looping over the Australian after Berbatov's drive cannoned into Riggott's legs, but he back-pedalled sufficiently to tip the ball against the crossbar and away to safety.

Yet for all that they were on the back-foot for almost all the opening period, Boro still contrived to miss the best chance of the game a matter of seconds before the break. Wheater's headed knock-down fell perfectly for Riggott on the edge of the six-yard box, but the centre-half lashed a close-range half-volley wastefully over the crossbar.

At least the opportunity proved that Boro remained very much alive as an attacking force, and Southgate felt emboldened enough at the interval to introduce 20-year-old Tom Craddock alongside Dong-Gook Lee.

The Darlington-born youngster, whose previous first-team experience stretched to eight minutes at Fulham 16 months ago, was involved immediately, teeing up Downing for a drive that deflected wide off Michael Dawson and skewing a volley over the crossbar after Wheater flicked Rochemback's corner in his direction.

When he skipped past Kaboul shortly after, Boro could content themselves with the knowledge that yet another Academy product was up and running.

Jones' smart save from Bale was bettered in the 66th minute when he flung himself to his right to claw away a diving header from Defoe.

But there was nothing even Jones could do when Spurs controversially claimed the lead in the 72nd minute. Robbie Keane's through ball caught the Middlesbrough defence napping and Bale galloped clear despite Lennon being in an offside position. The flag stayed down, much to the disgust of the Boro bench, and the Spurs full-back rounded Jones before steering the ball into the net.

Three minutes later Lennon danced inside Rochemback on the right and Huddlestone headed home the England winger's cross to compound Boro's misery