AFTER all the recent furore surrounding bungs, agents and corruption, football’s more public vice took centre stage yesterday when the spectre of diving returned to the Barclays Premiership. Tottenham Hotspur secured a precious 2-1 victory over Portsmouth at White Hart Lane courtesy of Didier Zokora’s blatant theatrics and a penalty that Harry Redknapp condemned as farcical.

While Martin Jol, the Tottenham head coach, insisted that Zokora, his £8.2 million midfield player, was “off balance” when he tumbled to the ground in the 35th minute, Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, raged at the contentious circumstances which contributed to his side’s second defeat in a week. He also became the latest manager to call for the introduction of video technology.

“It would take seconds for the fourth official to look at that, be wired up to the referee and tell him,” Redknapp said. “It’s so easy. He should have a monitor. It’s all right saying it evens itself out, but it was not a penalty. The referee is a nice guy, he’s a good referee and he feels embarrassed. He came to me at half-time and said, ‘Harry, I’m sorry, I’ve made a big mistake’. But what can I do about it now? The whole country’s looking at him, saying what a mess he made of that. He could do with some help.”

Jol added: “He (Zokora) assured me he didn’t dive. He is always going in and often looks unbalanced. I know this player and I have got to believe him if he said he was off balance but I can understand why Harry Redknapp is upset because I have never seen an incident quite like this in this country.”

Zokora, though, celebrated the award of a penalty when Chris Foy, the referee, pointed to the spot and Jol said: “That was because we were under pressure for results.”

West Ham United supporters serenaded Alan Pardew, in spite of their fifth defeat in succession. With bookmakers installing Pardew as favourite to be the next Premiership manager to face dismissal and with Luiz Felipe Scolari’s name looming, pressure is mounting at Upton Park, although fans have yet to turn against him.

A 1-0 defeat by Reading — the club Pardew left for East London in controversial circumstances in 2003 — means that West Ham have not won any of their six fixtures in all competitions since the arrival of Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano from Corinthians shortly before the transfer deadline on August 31. They are out of the Uefa Cup and have not mustered a victory since the opening day of the season.

“I just feel for the team,” Pardew, whose remodelled side are now fifth from bottom of the table, said. “I can’t remember in my managerial career seeing so many chances go astray as they have over the last three or four games. My experience tells me that will change and as for the pressure of the whole situation, I’ve had good experience of that already.” Two years ago, Pardew was close to being dismissed.

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Manchester United’s “best performance of the season” after two goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — his first in the league at Old Trafford for 3½ years — destroyed a cautious Newcastle United. “I think that was a really important day for us,” Ferguson said. “If we play like that all the time we’re not going to make it easy for any team.” With Cristiano Ronaldo rampant, United, who struck the woodwork on four occasions, returned to the head of the Premiership, where they lead Chelsea on goal difference.

“It’s always important to be top of the league,” Ferguson said. “It doesn’t matter when it is. It gives everyone a lift.”