If Martin Jol, a “dead man walking” for the past two months, appeared to lose his battle for life with Tottenham Hotspur last night, he did not leave the greatest of legacies. His side lost their first European match at White Hart Lane in 22 years – and only the second in their history – when they were beaten by Getafe.

As Jol seeks pastures new, Tottenham should perhaps not worry too much. It is a proud record to have squandered, especially as they led 1-0 against the Spanish side, but such is the convoluted nature of the Uefa Cup at this stage, they still have three matches left in group G in which to secure at least third place and qualify for the next round. For Jol, though, it would seem that his time is up.

He had stood impassively on the touchline, arms behind his back, as his players warmed up before the match. The kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes because of a car crash in the vicinity and the big Dutchman appeared preoccupied. When the teams walked out for the start, a battery of photographers stood in front of the dugout to take his picture.

In the build-up, Jol had not been inactive. He stated the obvious, that the 3-1 defeat away to Newcastle United on Monday night had been their worst display of the season, and he acted. Michael Dawson, Jermaine Jenas and Robbie Keane were the chief victims, though perhaps rested for the Barclays Premier League game at home to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday rather than dropped.

At least Jol’s reshuffled pack had a go as he sat in his chair, declining his usual place standing in the technical area. Not at first, with Getafe making most of the early running. Braulio sent a shot straight at Radek Cerny, still replacing the injured Paul Robinson in goal, and Esteban Granero drove carelessly over.

From then, Tottenham upped the pace. Even Dimitar Berbatov, who apparently was a reluctant second-half substitute at St James’ Park, seemed to be interested, producing a series of runs alongside Jermain Defoe. Otherwise, the Bulgarian’s season has been nigh on disgraceful as he has gone through the motions. Not quite the way to repay Jol after the manager rescued him from Bayer Leverkusen and German football.

Oscar Ustari saved well from Defoe, after the England striker had attempted to scamper past him on to Tom Huddlestone’s pass, but Tottenham were gathering momentum and went ahead in the nineteenth minute. Aaron Lennon crossed from the right, Berbatov nodded the ball back from the far post and Defoe scored with a rare header from close range.

Jol leapt from his seat and was enveloped by Chris Hughton, his assistant, and Hans Segers, his goalkeeping coach, in a group hug. Jol had been right. His side had no problem in scoring goals. However, he was right also that they conceded too many and too often from set-pieces.

True to form, two minutes later, they allowed Getafe an equaliser. And from a free kick. Granero swung it over from the left, Cerny hesitated – first moving forwards, then backwards – and Reuben de la Red ran across his eye-line. The ball ended up in the net, with De la Red claiming a touch and Granero also accepting the generous acclaim from his teammates.

Berbatov thought that he had regained Tottenham’s lead after another two minutes, when he stooped to head in a curling cross from Younès Kaboul. His delight, though, was shortlived as he glanced over to the assistant referee’s flag that was signalling offside. It was of no consolation to Berbatov that video evidence suggested his goal was valid.

Jol, now wearing a cap in the steady drizzle, retook his seat for the start of the second half. Four minutes later, perhaps news of his future having filtered through to the masses, the fans in the Park Lane End pleaded for Jol to wave at them. He did, but with a clenched fist. It raised the atmosphere and Tottenham responded with gusto.

First, Defoe’s cross was eventually channelled back to Steed Malbranque on the edge of the Getafe area. He let fly but Roberto Abbondanzieri made a stunning save with the use of his fists. Defoe returned the ball into the middle, after it had rebounded to him on the right flank, but an off-balance Berbatov could only nod wide.

The home supporters were in a frenzy, repeatedly chanting Jol’s name. He now stood, back to his normal routine, and the fans stood, too, as applause reverberated all around the ground. They knew. For good measure, they also threw in some abuse for Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman.There was still half an hour of the match to go, though, and Franck Signorino almost spoilt the party-like mood when his long-range drive clipped the crossbar. Braulio did put a damper on it in the 70th minute, superbly diverting in David Cortes’s cross with the cutest of back-flicks.

Jol showed little reaction bar preparing Robbie Keane as a replacement for Malbranque. But a Getafe win was certainly not in the script.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): R Cerny – P Chimbonda, Y Kaboul, A Gardner (sub: M Dawson, 43min), Lee Young Pyo – A Lennon, D Zokora (sub: T Tainio, 73), T Huddlestone, S Malbranque (sub: R Keane, 71) – J Defoe, D Berbatov. Substitutes not used: T Forecast, P Stalteri, K-P Boateng, D Bent. Booked: Defoe, Kaboul.

Getafe (4-1-4-1): O Ustari (sub: R Abbondanzieri, 46) – D Cortés, D Belenguer, C DÍaz, F Signorino – R de la Red – E Granero (sub: M Cotelo, 76), J AlbÍn, J Casquero (sub: F Sousa, 62), Nacho – Braulio. Substitutes not used: L Licht, Manu, K Blanco, Juanfran. Booked: Albin, Abbondanzieri.

Referee: K Kircher (Germany).