Pleat cuts a lonely figure

David Pleat's future was still under intense speculation today after Tottenham fans delivered another demand for him to be sacked.

Pleat insisted he did not hear the latest calls for him to go but the fans made their feelings clear as Spurs beat Blackburn thanks to Jermain Defoe's first-half goal.

Pleat had already been forced to read the pre-match programme notes from chairman Daniel Levy who called the club's season " unacceptable" and their woeful recent form as "appalling". Levy sacked Glenn Hoddle six games into the season and asked Pleat to take charge until this summer.

But his comments over the amount of money spent on players in the last three seasons, investments which must have had the backing of Pleat in his role as director of football, and Levy's insistence that he was ready to make some tough decisions, won't have eased Pleat's fears about his own situation.

Levy said: "I have set high standards for this club. I now need to deal with the areas that aren't meeting those standards. This will mean some tough decisions throughout several areas of the club, but I refuse to compromise."

Pleat would not be drawn on Levy's comments. He said: "I'm sad it was my last game at White Hart Lane as manager. I'm just pleased the team played well. I did see the chairman's words before the game but I don't have to say whether they're justified. There's a lot of questions only he can answer."

With Levy hoping to persuade Giovanni Trapattoni and Peter Taylor to take over next season, Pleat's position is becoming more isolated.