SPURS 2 - 1 BORO

Berbatov, Keano

Huth

Spurs:
Robinson, Chimbonda, YP Lee, Dawson, King, Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone, Malbranque (Keane, 81; Murphy, 90), Berbatov, Defoe (Tainio, 85).
Unused subs: Cerny, Stalteri.

Boro:
Schwarzer, Boateng, Woodgate, Christie, (Morrison, 46), Pogatetz, Huth, Xavier, Downing, Yakubu, Cattermole, (Viduka, 56),Taylor (Arca, 46). Subs: Jones, Parnaby.

Robbie Keane scored a dramatic winner with just six minutes remaining after it looked like Middlesbrough might have snatched a point at the Lane.

Dimitar Berbatov netted his seventh goal of the season not long after the interval, but dominance was not converted into the currency of further goals and Boro capitalised with an equaliser from Robert Huth.

There thankfully followed some Keano intervention to secure the win and banish some of the hurt from the weekend's defeat.

There was a sprightly start to the game with Jermain Defoe looking his dynamic self linking up with lightening Aaron Lennon either side of Berbatov in attack. There was an early purpose and conviction that was so lacking on Saturday, but the first real high alert was at the wrong end when Yakubu spun and hooked a shot not that far wide of Paul Robinson's right hand upright.

Mark Schwarzer would have been a helpless bystander if a Defoe free-kick from 20 yards out had been a foot lower on 15 minutes, shortly before a Didier Zokora run led to the ball running loose in front of the little striker but Andrew Taylor executed a brave block. Defoe then really tested the Australian keeper with a rasping drive that was just about parried to safety.

The chances were coming thick and fast, but the breakthrough frustratingly elusive in the first 40 minutes, a Defoe dart and shot quickly followed by a rasper from Tom Huddlestone that Schwarzer just managed to tip over the bar.

On 47 minutes a Huddlestone free-kick from the left was headed back across goal by Pascal Chimbonda and there followed a moment of class from Berbatov - the striker altering his stance in order to athletically hook the ball beyond Schwarzer and into the net. It was a well deserved breaking of the deadlock in our favour.

Defoe was in position to make it two after busting the Boro rearguard ten minutes into the second period before a last ditch lunge by the hugely impressive Jonathan Woodgate denied Berbatov's sidekick for the night. Defoe went on to pick out Chimbonda running from deep to the far post from a clever free-kick, but the full-back miscued his shot and the only net rattled was the side netting.

Robbo had his palms warmed by a thumping free-kick from Huth on the hour, a passage of play that resulted in Morrison stabbing a shot wide from point blank range.

Huddlestone was an impressive figure in the centre of the park, marshalling the midfield troops but also showing a real willingness to thrust forward in support of the more diminutive threat of messrs Defoe, Lennon and Malbranque.

It was Lennon who was next to produce a moment of magic, brilliantly wrong footing the visiting defence and rolling the ball into the path of Defoe who, unfortunately once again, saw the imposing Schwarzer looming in front of him to make a block.

With the clock ticking down slowly there was always going to be a danger with such a narrow advantage and, with the ball bobbling around in the area following a set piece, Boro levelled with ten minutes remaining when Huth slammed the ball home to give his side an unlikely share of the spoils.

Martin responded by bringing on Robbie Keane for Malbranque and was about to be swiftly followed by Teemu Tainio before Keane took matters into his own hands - or right foot on 84 minutes.

Huddlestone took a short free-kick which took the visitors by surprise and the substitute looked up and smashed the ball from 20-odd yards past Schwarzer and into the net. The goalkeeper will not want to see too many replays.

There was late drama when Zokora and Yakubu were dismissed after a melee resulting from a hefty challenge on Lennon and Emanuel Pogatetz was fortunate not to go the same way after a nasty lunge on Huddlestone.

It ended up with a feisty finish and a welcome three points in our account.

Key Action - Official Site
1min: First effort on goal, Lee decent hit from 25 yards bit always going wide.
4mins: Lennon picked up ball centrally, little prod through to Berbatov a fraction too heavy and Schwarzer out to collect.
7mins: Zokora lashed a shot high and wide from 30 yards.
9mins: Quick dart inside from Lennon, fed into Defoes feet, early shot blocked by Woodgate.
10mins: CLOSE. Christie fed ball into Yakubu, right side of box, turned inside Lee and hit low shot that deflected off King and skidded just wide.
15mins: Defoe curled free-kick just over from central position, 20 yards out.
16mins: Zokora burst fully 50 yards forward, challenged just as he looked to pull the trigger, ball spun loose in Defoe's direction but Taylor there to mop up.
18mins: SAVE. Berbatov threaded ball through to Defoe who smashed effort goalbound instantly, Schwarzer reaction save to palm away.
20mins: CHANCE. Quick break, Malbranque played clever ball inside Woodgate for Defoe, left channel of box, Woodgate got back well and was just about there as Defoe went for goal, lashing a yard wide.
25mins: Decent spell of pressure, couple of corners, second saw Huddlestone's driven kick glanced wide by Chimbonda.
32mins: CHANCE. Downing whipped in corner from the left, Pogatetz tussled with Chimbonda to reach it and did so just six yards out, header went just wide.
34mins: Lennon up against Taylor one against one for just about the first time, worked a yard and drilled in fine cross, no-one there to capitalise.
37mins: Quick break from Boro corner, Zokora raced away and had options left and right, chose Lennon on the left, into box, didn't get shot off and Woodgate made tackle.
39mins: SAVE. Defoe quick feet managed to get off two shots, both blocked, the second went out to Lennon on the right, his first-time cross was headed out to Huddlestone who controlled and fizzed shot that Schwarzer tipped over.
41mins: Good work from Berbatov and Lee down the left, Lee got to the byline, really fizzed in cross just too high for Defoe at near post.
44mins: Huddlestone turned Boateng and then won 50-50 with Cattermole, went forward another 30 yards before dragging shot wide from 25 yards.
Half-time: Spurs 0, Middlesbrough 0
Half-time: SUBS - BORO. Arca and Morrison for Taylor and Christie.
47mins: GOAL - SPURS. Chimbonda headed Huddlestone's free-kick back into the danger area and Berbatov hooked spectacular volley over Schwarzer into far corner from 15 yards.
Spurs 1, Middlesbrough 0
51mins: Dawson got in front of Pogatetz to meet Lennons free-kick from the right but couldn't keep header on target.
54mins: CHANCE. Defoe sent through on goal by Zokora, Woodgate in pursuit again, Defoe delayed a fraction and Woodgate made superb tackle.
55mins: MISS. Free-kick on the edge of the box, no chance for a shot with Boateng racing to charge down, Defoe instead dinked to far post where Chimbonda was clear, eight yards out, side-footed wide.
56mins: SUB - BORO. Viduka for Cattermole.
59mins: Defoe curved his run to pick up Malbranque's pass, held it up for support that came from Malbranque, rolled return pass into his feet but Malbranque couldn't keep effort down.
61mins: SAVE/CLOSE. Huth hammered free-kick that Robinson did well to beat out, ball eventually came back in for Morrison who shot inches wide from 16 yards.
62mins: SAVE. Lovely interchange between Defoe and Berbatov, Berbatov backheeled return pass to Defoe but Schwarzer out quickly to block with legs.
67mins: Defoe and Berbatov linked up again, this time Berbatov laid off to Lennon, edge of the box, he turned inside Pogatetz's challenge and curled left-foot shot a yard over.
68mins: SAVE. Exquisite reverse pass from Lennon cutting in from the right opened it up for Defoe but Schwarzer out again to block with body.
69mins: Malbranque volleyed effort wide from 20 yards.
80mins: GOAL - MIDDLESBROUGH. Downing swung in corner from the left, Huth initially met it and Malbranque cleared off the line, although Robinson would have collected easily. Ball continued to bobble around and eventually fell to Huth who smashed it home from 10 yards.
Spurs 1, Middlesbrough 1
81mins: SUB - SPURS. Keane for Malbranque.
82mins: YELLOW CARD - MIDDLESBROUGH. Arca for foul on Lennon.
84mins: GOAL - SPURS. Huddlestone took quick free-kick to Keane who stepped forward a couple of yards before hammering shot past Schwarzer from 25 yards.
Spurs 2, Middlesbrough 1
87mins: RED CARDS. Zokora and Boateng both off after clash following challenge on Lennon.
89mins: YELLOW CARD - MIDDLESBROUGH. Pogatetz for foul on Huddlestone.
Added time: CLOSE. Keane onto dinked pass from Huddlestone, left side of box, volleyed across Schwrzer but wide. Added time: SUB - SPURS. Murphy for injured Keane.
Added time: YELLOW CARD - MIDDLESBROUGH. Huth for foul on Huddlestone.
Final score: Spurs 2, Middlesbrough 1