Spurs boss discusses Adebayor’s red against Arsenal

Referee Howard Webb shows the red card to Tottenham Hotspur's Emmanuel Adebayor for his 17th-minute foul on Arsenal's Santi Cazorla. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Saturday, November 17, 2012
4:03 PM

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas accepted Adebayor’s dismissal was justified but was reluctant to be too hard on the striker.

The Lilywhites were leading 1-0 at the time but went on to lose by five goals to two.

“Players want to dispute the ball, there was no intention to do any harm,” the Portuguese boss said.

“I think the sending-off determined the game, but the referee made the right decision.”

Having gone 4-1 down on the hour mark, Spurs pulled a goal back through Gareth Bale and both the Wales star and Jermain Defoe had opportunities to further eat into the deficit.

And Villas-Boas added: “I’m very, very proud of the team.

“We had chances for 4-3 and if it had gone to only a one-goal difference, I think we could have gone all the way.

“We had the ambition and desire and I am extremely proud of the team.”