Tottenham 1 Reading 0:  A controversial first-half Robbie Keane penalty earned Tottenham a hard-fought victory over Reading and moved them up to sixth place in the Premiership.

Reading defender Greg Halford was harshly adjudged to have handled inside the penalty area six minutes before the interval and the Republic of Ireland captain scored the decider from the subsequent spot-kick.

The win was a boost for Martin Jol's side, who face Sevilla in the first leg of their Uefa Cup quarter-final on Thursday.

Spurs dominated the game and but for the first-half heroics of goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann would have won by a much bigger margin.

Tottenham were unlucky not to take a second minute lead when they carved Reading's defence open with a slick four-man move.

Pascal Chimbonda's long ball was nodded down to Aaron Lennon by Dimitar Berbatov and when the England winger laid the ball into the path of Steed Malbranque, the French midfielder's shot cannoned off the outside of the post.

Seconds later Keane was denied a certain goal by the brilliance of Hahnemann. Bulgaria striker Berbatov was again the architect of the chance when he chested the ball into the Irishman's path. However, Keane's volley was superbly saved by Hahnemann at point-blank range.

In the 11th minute it was the turn of Berbatov to be denied by the Reading goalkeeper when he pushed away the striker's effort. But the visitors hit back moments later when Leroy Lita's firm header struck Paul Robinson's left-hand post.

Keane wasted another chance to put the home side in front in the 19th minute when Malbranque had again put him in the clear. This time Keane tried to chip the ball over the Reading goalkeeper but his execution left a lot to be desired and Hahnemann comfortably dealt with it.

Spurs finally took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 39th minute.

Halford was adjudged to have handled the ball just inside the penalty area - a decision disputed at length by his team-mates. But Alan Wiley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Keane despatched the penalty easily to put the home side in front.

Spurs almost made it two just before the break when Berbatov drove a free-kick over the defensive wall and towards the top corner but once again Hahnemann was equal to the task as he flung himself to his right.

England striker Jermain Defoe, on as a replacement for Keane, then wasted two glorious opportunities in the final 10 minutes as Jol's side were made to hang on for all three points.