Bolton played the percentage game and pressed the visitors back from set pieces and throw-ins. Their 4-3-3 formation also managed to eliminate most of Tottenham's moves going forward.
On the outcome and conceding two early goals, including Ivan Campo's wonder strike, Jermaine Jenas said: "It was obviously not the result we wanted, we knew it would be tough here, but conceding two early goals made it even harder for us."
"It was a disappointing one but then not many teams have come away from here with much."
"Robbo must have seen it really late and Campo caught it really well to put it in the bottom corner."
Coach Martin Jol said: "That is what you don't want against Bolton.
"They scored their second goal straight after the first so we were 2-0 down away to Bolton. They could then wait for us to attack and that's very difficult away from home.
Assistant coach Chris Hughton said: "It was not the start we wanted on Saturday and probably by the time we were getting into our game we were 2-0 down and that deficit away to Bolton was a very steep hill to climb."
On the first of those goals conceded, shrouded in controversy, Dimitar Berbatov said: "They were a strong physical team. We have seen the first goal in the changing room though and it was clear there was a foul against us."
"They fought the whole time and we were not strong enough on the day."
Jol added: "They scored the first goal which was disappointing because it should have been disallowed since it was a foul on Calum Davenport."
Michael Dawson playing alongside Davenport at the heart of the Spurs defence, said: "I think the first goal was definitely a free-kick having seen a replay, but we were disappointed to have conceded from a set piece."
On the few offensive chances and the overall team effort, Jenas added: "We didn't click and didn't create enough chances. The only clear one was when Dimitar went through one on one with the keeper (Jussi Jaaskelainen)."
Berbatov added: "We didn't play well even though we knew how they would play, we tried to counter it but unfortunately it didn't happen for us."
"It was a good chance but the goalkeeper was very smart."
Jol added: "We didn't keep a clean sheet so we got less space and so weren't able to break."
"We tried everything with Robbie, Jermain, Berbatov and Lennon all on but it wasn't good enough."
"But at 2-0 it's really difficult. They kept it tight, Campo was in front of the defence, a 4-5-1 system and it's difficult to break them."
"We didn't do enough in the second half. We didn't score goals and create things even though we had the initiative."
Hughton added: "In all honesty we didn't do well enough on the day because we needed to perform better as a team."
Dawson added: "It was a disappointing result and performance from our point of view."
And on the downbeat introduction to English league football for the three debutants in the Tottenham side, Jol added: "It would have been a great experience for Benoit, Berbatov and especially Zokora in that midfield. But it was 'welcome to the Premiership' which they will have benefited from."
Source: TottenhamHotspur.com