Tottenham Hotspur secured a fifth successive league win yesterday and eased themselves into sixth place in the Barclays Premiership. Victory did not come easily — and only after a controversial penalty award shortly before half-time — but a place in Europe beckons for the second season in a row.

On Thursday, Tottenham continue this season’s continental adventure when they travel to Spain for the first leg of their Uefa Cup quarter-final against Seville. They are in fine fettle — bar their recent FA Cup exit against Chelsea — and can be expected to trouble the cup holders.

Having scored goals for fun recently, it is also good news for Martin Jol, the head coach, that his side have tightened up at the back. As Reading drew a blank, though not for the want of trying, it was the first time in 21 matches that Tottenham had not conceded a league goal.

“Clean sheets have been a problem this season,” Jol said. “We had so many last season but this season we play a bit more open, with Aaron Lennon and Steed Malbranque. Yes, it would be nice to keep a clean sheet against Seville, but if we give away chances like we did today, then they will probably punish us.”

Reading were punished, a shade harshly, in the 40th minute, when Greg Halford inadvertently handled the ball in the area — there appeared to be no intent — and Robbie Keane tucked in the penalty. Steve Coppell, the Reading manager, was miffed. “There was almost a secondary motion from Greg but it was involuntary,” Coppell said. “There was no way he was attempting to gain an advantage. I suppose as the away team and the beaten team, you can think all kinds of sinister things. That is just the paranoia of the small team.”

The first half was full of artistic merit but lacked a gloss finish. That owed much to the displays of the goalkeepers, Paul Robinson and Marcus Hahnemann, who were always ready when called into action. Hahnemann was busier, saving well from Keane and Dimitar Berbatov as Reading struggled to get to grips with the blustery conditions and a slick Tottenham. Reading lost 7-1 on their previous visit to White Hart Lane but that was in 1930, in the old second division.

Jol paid Reading respect by fielding a side that, more or less, he might play against Seville. After Tottenham had lost 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium in November, Jol said: “When you lose to teams like Reading, you know you have a problem.” There was no such cheap shot from Jol this time. It was just as well, with Reading continuing to show why they have gained many admirers in the Premiership this season.

Robinson — on his 200th appearance in the Premiership — had to earn his corn, with an athletic stop to deny Dave Kitson. Earlier, he had stood motionless when Glen Little crossed from the right and Leroy Lita nodded against a post. As the game seesawed, with Hahnemann denying Malbranque and then Ricardo Rocha blocking a piledriver from Steve Sidwell, Halford’s misfortune turned the tide. “The penalty was a bit harsh,” he said. “I felt that it was ball to hand rather than hand to ball. It leaves a bit of a bitter feeling.”

Halford, a £2.25 million buy from Colchester United in January, appeared ill at ease on his full debut. Apart from getting prodigious distance with his thrown-ins, he spent his time trying to cope with the weaving raids of Malbranque.

If the first half was open, neither team held back in the second either. Tottenham created most of the chances as Reading pushed forward, but Adam Federici — a half-time replacement for Hahnemann, who had a hip problem — saved from Berbatov’s volley.

Federici was also helped by Tottenham’s wasteful finishing, with Lennon, Malbranque and Defoe all equally guilty. It could have proved costly when Nicky Shorey crossed low into the Tottenham area near the end, but Lita nodded wide. Reading’s challenge had been rebuffed, Tottenham stroll on in Europe. This season and perhaps next, too.