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Crowd favourite Defoe had hit the bar and been frustrated by Boro goalkeeper Brad Jones, and replacing him with Robbie Keane in the 69th minute prompted booing from home fans.

However, Keane had a hand in Spurs' opener three minutes later, with Tom Huddlestone sealing a 2-0 win and a place in the fourth round.

"I don't think it's about booing me because a minute later they are singing my name," said Jol. "I am in a very good position here and that is what I deserve, I gave them a bit of success over the last couple of years - no-one could have done better.

"I'm not someone to fear things. They say in Holland 'have no fear Jolly is here'."

While this substitution had an immediate impact, Jol's decision to bring Defoe on for Keane in a Premier League match earlier in the season against Fulham led to Spurs letting a 3-1 advantage slip.

"You can leave it and wait or make a decision," Jol added. "I've had around 150 games, maybe 170, and they normally come off, maybe a couple of them didn't.

"I make brave decisions all the time because I want to win.

"Everyone will be involved, that's what I tell them. Darren Bent was on the bench."

Defoe reacted angrily to being taken off against Boro, with Jol adding: "He's a human being.

"Even with children, if they have a lot of support they feel confident. I always say if you come off you have to show respect for your team-mates."

For the opener, Keane slipped Gareth Bale through to round Jones and finish from a tight angle, his third goal in as many starts. Boro's bench felt Aaron Lennon was offside in the build-up to the 72nd-minute striker and goalkeeper coach Paul Barron was sent to the stands for leaving the technical area.

"We are well aware that Bale was onside but we do feel Lennon was interfering, he was standing five yards from Bale and let the ball run," said Boro boss Gareth Southgate. "Our covering defender has to go around Lennon.

"Maybe I have to go on another course! It's difficult for the linesman but the flag should have gone up."

Huddlestone doubled the lead with 15 minutes remaining, meeting Lennon's header after the England winger skipped inside Fabio Rochemback.

Boro were left to rue Chris Riggott's opportunity just before the break when Spurs failed to clear a free-kick and the defender volleyed over.

"It's important to take those chances but we didn't," Southgate added. As they have been all season, Spurs were suspect from set-pieces, and substitute Tom Craddock could not direct his effort on goal when he was found from a corner early in the second half.

Having the likes of Mido, Jonathan Woodgate and Julio Arca out injured and staying level with Spurs for 72 minutes came as no consolation to Southgate.

He added: "We came and played in a style we were forced to. We kept it tight in the first half and put a striker on after the break and it could have been a night we could have grabbed a 1-0.

"We don't have to bleat on about who we don't have here, Tottenham were the better side and good luck to them."

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