More misery for Ramos as Spurs suffer Euro crash

UDINE, Italy (AFP) - Tottenham boss Juande Ramos was left clinging desperately to his job on Thursday after watching his struggling side crash to a 2-0 UEFA Cup defeat at Udinese.

Spurs, rock-bottom of the Premier League without a win this season, also finished this opening Group D clash with 10 men after Jamie O'Hara was red-carded just before the hour mark.

I'm very angry because I don't like to lose," said Ramos whose side have collected just two points in the Premier League this season.

"We lost this match and now we have to win matches to qualify for the next stage."

Udinese, second in Serie A behind defending champions Inter Milan, were ahead after 24 minutes when Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes brought down Fabio Quagliarella inside the area as he fumbled Benoit Assou-Ekotto's backpass.

Antonio Di Natale coolly scored from the penalty spot.

O'Hara's dismissal, for successive fouls on Alexis Sanchez, only added to Spurs' problems and they were under the cosh for the remainder of the tie.

Udinese substitute Simone Pepe, who had replaced Sanchez in the 79th minute, added the second goal four minutes from the end when he slotted a pass from Quagliarella beyond Gomes.

Spurs' England centre-half Jonathan Woodgate was so dismayed at his team's performance that he admitted relegation was a real worry.

"We have to stand up. People say we are too good to go down but you are never too good to go down," said Woodgate.

"I saw the same thing happen when I was at Leeds and we had a better team there. It's going to be hard. We are in a real relegation battle. We have the losing mentality.

"We are not performing on the pitch and the pressure is on the manager. We are just not pulling our weight."

Tottenham's best chance fell to Darren Bent, who had a header well saved by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

But the Londoners' fruitless trip to Italy was best summed up by the pre-match ommission of midfielder David Bentley who was dropped for his criticism of the club.