Portsmouth 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1: Spurs warm to Ramos and hint at a rosy future

It was a day for sheepskin coats at Fratton Park on Saturday. The kind of freezing December day in a cramped and creaking stadium that some would say should favour home-grown sensibilities over imported ones. Juande Ramos showed, however, that his vision for Tottenham cares little for difficult conditions.

Tottenham's first league win away from White Hart Lane this season came courtesy of a late Dimitar Berbatov goal, as well as their first clean sheet on the road. They can now start to look at the top half of the table and hope to start picking off those ahead of them like a horse coming from the back of the field.

Jermaine Jenas, impressive in the Spurs midfield, revealed the new found optimism around the club. "I think the wheels are starting to turn now," he said. "We're definitely looking up, rather than down."

Jenas did the simple things well and epitomised the development of the side under Ramos. In the vast battalion of names that will inevitably be put forward to be a part of Fabio Capello's new England side, his deserves a mention.

Ramos, however, favours the team over the individual and so Saturday's performance should be even more pleasing for him. Spurs were resolute at the back despite losing Michael Dawson to a migraine strong in midfield and dangerous on the wings through Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque.

Strangely it was up front where they looked weakest. In the absence of the suspended Robbie Keane, Darren Bent was again chosen ahead of Jermain Defoe. Bent looked slightly lost and was replaced by Defoe before Spurs got the goal which gave them three points and heightened ambitions.

"We're a club that belongs in Europe," Jenas said, "so we will definitely be pushing for a spot. The manager belongs in Europe as well. He has won the Uefa Cup the last two years running so he won't want to let go of it now."

Ramos reveals little, and his interpreter even less, but he said that his impression of the Premier League so far is a good one. "I have not been surprised by the quality," he said. "It's a beautiful league with high intensity."

From being unbeaten in 11 games, Portsmouth are now looking at statistics which say they have not scored at home in the league since they beat Reading 7-4 at the end of September, a run of four matches. The manager, Harry Redknapp, said their display was their worst of the season and lamented the loss of Nwankwo Kanu, who was attending his father's funeral in Nigeria.

The goal which ended Portsmouth's unbeaten run came with only nine minutes to go. A Spurs counter-attack saw Berbatov unmarked at the back post to side-foot home Lennon's deflected cross.

"Three points was the only way we'd be happy today," Jenas said. "Most teams would be happy with one point at Fratton Park, so it just shows you the positive attitude we have got."

Goals: Berbatov (81) 0-1.

Portsmouth (4-5-1): James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot (Hreidarsson 74); Utaka, Diop, Mendes (Davis 46), Muntari (Nugent 65), Kranjcar; Benjani. Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Taylor.

Tottenham (4-4-2): Robinson; Chimbonda, Kaboul, Zokora Lee; Lennon (Tainio 86), Jenas, Boateng (O'Hara 78), Malbranque; Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 74). Substitutes not used: Cerny (gk), Stalteri.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

Booked: Portsmouth Mendes, Kranjcar, Distin. Tottenham Malbranque, Berbatov.

Man of the match: Jenas.

Attendance: 20,520.