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Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0 at NEC Nijmegen in Group D of the UEFA Cup thanks to a 14th-minute goal from Jamie O'Hara.

The win all but guarantees Harry Redknapp's team progression to the knock-out stage, with six points generally regarded as the threshold for qualification.

O'Hara's header put Spurs ahead in what was an energetic, if not always skilful game.

On a chilly Dutch night both sides rattled up and down the pitch and while there was no doubting the industry, neither side looked like taking their opponent's defence apart.

That energy was manifested both in the work-rate and the number of heavy tackles and clashes, with Frazier Campbell and Jhon van Beukering tussling after just four minutes, which led to the Dutch striker going off.

After plenty of non-penetrating back and forth in midfield, Spurs found the net with the first decent chance of the game.

David Bentley, who was impressive all night, started the move from midfield, releasing Bale to cross from the left.

Campbell's effort hit the bar, and a happily unmarked O'Hara was on-hand to nod in his first UEFA Cup goal.

The Dutch side came back strongly, with Lorenzo Davids impressive in midfield and Mostapha El Kabir in superb form on the right wing, but rarely did they trouble Heurelho Gomes between the sticks.

Spurs simply soaked up the pressure, and it was they who had the next decent chance when Jonathan Woodgate and Campbell linked up after 38 minutes, though Campbell's cross was well cut out by the keeper.

The subsequent NEC counter-attack led to El Kabir finding the side netting, NEC's best move all night.

A couple of changes in the second half helped NEC find a little more cutting edge, with the introduction of Joel Tshibamba after 81 minutes leading to a great chance for the young striker.

But it was Spurs who always looked the more likely to score. Chances fell for Bentley and Aaron Lennon, but little to get the crowd out of their seats, and at the other end only El Kabir ever looked like bringing something together for the outclassed Dutch side.

Spurs were left to close out the match, and did so clinically: the final minutes degenerated into corner-flag time-wasting and substitutions for new prospects.

The visitors held on for the win and Redknapp's impressive run continued with his new charges, and - barring anything extraordinary - his team are not only out of danger in the Premiership, but also safely in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

In other other Group D match of the night, Dinamo Zagreb lost 1-0 at home to Spartak Moscow.

Russia international Ivan Saenko scored the winner with a quarter of an hour remaining to put Spartak third in the group with three points from two matches.

Dinamo also have three points but fall behind the Russians with an inferior goal difference, worse head-to-head and having played one match more.

Toby Keel / Eurosport