• Premier League

Villas-Boas: Reading win relieves pressure

ESPN staff
September 16, 2012
Gareth Bale was among the Tottenham scorers © PA Photos
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his side will now play with greater freedom after grabbing their opening win of the season against Reading.

Spurs defeated the newly-promoted side 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, thanks to two goals from Jermain Defoe either side of a scuffed Gareth Bale finish.

Prior to the result pressure had begun to grow on Villas-Boas, who had started life at White Hart Lane with an underwhelming return of two points from his opening three league games. However, after getting that crucial first win, the Portuguese is confident performances, and results, will now pick up.

"We were chasing this win for quite some time," Villas-Boas told Sky Sports. "And it is important for everybody. Hopefully we can shoot on from now on.

"I thought we looked bright, confident and played some very good football.

"It was important for Gareth, he scored in the international break and he has scored again now, and it has improved his confidence.

"I am happy for him and happy for Defoe to find the back of the net again - three goals in the Premier League shows the goalscorer that he is.

"I am happy for the team in general, everybody was very committed towards getting our first win. "It is always very difficult against newly-promoted teams at their home, but hopefully we can build on this for the future."

Villas-Boas believes the result relieves the pressure ahead of forthcoming games, starting with the midweek Europa League tie against Lazio.

"It takes out the anxiety about winning for the first time, that is always something that can stick into the players' minds," he noted. "It will give us a good, relaxed week of work ahead for the Lazio game.

"We will have to show our competence against Lazio and I think we can do exactly that now."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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