Tottenham 1 Newcastle 4

Michael Owen was on the scoresheet again as Newcastle took a huge stride towards Barclays Premier League safety with a surprise 4-1 victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Kevin Keegan's men fell behind to Darren Bent's opener but goals from Nicky Butt and Geremi put the visitors ahead before Owen scored his third in as many games for his club.

Obafemi Martins added a fourth with eight minutes remaining, latching onto Joey Barton's pass and finishing calmly to seal the points.

It took Newcastle into the relative comfort of 12th place, and with 35 points they can almost start looking towards next season.

Managers towards the wrong end of the table say that back-to-back wins get teams out of trouble and Keegan has now provided that in style.

He waited two months for his first and now, like buses, two have come in quick succession.

The first came against a woeful Fulham side last week but this one, despite Spurs having little to play for, took character to come from a goal behind to turn it around and send the Newcastle fans home jubilant. "Keegan is our king,'' they sang.

Keegan had never met Spurs boss Juande Ramos but there were plenty of reunions elsewhere between the two teams, with Newcastle assistant boss Chris Hughton returning to his former club and Dennis Wise in the directors' box gesturing to his close friend Gus Poyet on the Spurs bench.

Jonathan Woodgate welcomed the Newcastle staff he worked with at St James' Park - then almost gifted his former side a fifth-minute opener.

His careless clearance went as far as Habib Beye, who composed himself in the penalty area but cracked his finish off the crossbar.

In Newcastle's bright opening, Paul Robinson was called into action to stop Martins' low drive when he found a yard of room on the edge of the box.

It was an easy save from Robinson, but there was nothing straightforward about his stop to deny Barton, who angled a drive towards the bottom corner after Spurs failed to deal with a throw.

Spurs applied early pressure of their own, with Robbie Keane at the heart of their attacks. He sent Bent through but Steve Harper saved the tame shot.

Keane had a penalty shout turned down when Abdoulaye Faye climbed on him to head clear and from the corner he was almost on the goalline when he stabbed wide, following in Woodgate's saved header.

For all of Keane's invention, it was Bent who opened the scoring in the 26th minute.

Steed Malbranque was given time on the left flank to switch the ball to his favoured right boot, then he swung over a cross that Bent glanced into the far corner.

Keegan had just given the visiting supporters the thumbs up but threw his arms in the air in disbelief at the simplicity of the opener.

It could have been worse when Bent raced through again. He was denied by Harper rushing out and Dimitar Berbatov blasted the rebound over the crossbar.

Faye had the ball in the net for the visitors before the break but there were no protests when it was ruled out of offside. Barton felt he had a more legitimate claim for a penalty when Michael Dawson used his body to block the ball.

Newcastle's equaliser came with seconds remaining in the first half, with Butt steering home after Geremi had pulled the ball back to the edge of the area.

Their second came in the 52nd minute after Woodgate had fouled Martins on the edge of the area. Geremi's free-kick went through the wall, leaving Robinson flat-footed.

Geremi could have inflicted more damage when he raced down the right but he was stopped by Jamie O'Hara, earning the Spurs youngster a booking.

The Ramos response was to bring on Aaron Lennon and Adel Taarabt, with Keane and Malbranque making way.

The third, however, arrived in the 65th minute from Owen, meeting Mark Viduka's flick with a first-time finish after Geremi played the ball into the danger zone.

Martins added gloss to scoreline, with his finish delighting the travelling support.

Newcastle took a huge stride towards safety following the 4-1 victory at Tottenham and Kevin Keegan believes they can even target a top-half finish.

Keegan's men came from a goal behind at White Hart Lane to lift themselves to the relative comfort of 12th in the Barclays Premier League, virtually assuring themselves of survival.

The difference between Newcastle and the relegation zone is now nine points - the same gap they have with West Ham in the top half.

'We're definitely not safe yet but we can look up not down,' Keegan said.

'We could catch Spurs up and we could catch up West Ham. People would have said that was ridiculous a few weeks ago.

'We have three home games and three away left and playing like this, I think the players will look forward to playing anybody.'

Newcastle have now recorded back-to-back wins, with Keegan seeing enough to suggest there may not be the need for radical changes to the squad in the summer.

'I'm saying to the staff that if we can add little bits to this it could be quite exciting,' he added.

'There is quite a lot here. Sometimes it gets lost when you are on a bad run.
'When they play like that you think we don't need an awful lot to set us alight, just two or three. And the players would welcome that. They will have to be very good players to better us.'

Darren Bent had headed Spurs into the lead when he glanced a header in from Steed Malbranque's cross, but the revival was under way when Nicky Butt steered home from the edge of the area.

Geremi edged Newcastle ahead with a free-kick just after the restart that went through the defensive wall and left Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson flat-footed.

The points were sealed when Keegan's three strikers combined. Obafemi Martins played the ball through, Mark Viduka flicked on and Michael Owen finished first time.

Martins extended the lead eight minutes from time when he raced through, latching onto Joey Barton's pass and finishing calmly.

'I might put a couple more forwards in next time!' Keegan added.

'This is the right way to play with the players and fixtures we've got.

'You look at our defensive record and to try to defend puts pressure on your defenders. They know that maybe they can concede a goal and have enough to win.

'You dream about playing like that away from home. You dream about being 4-1 up with 10 to go. Reality in the Premier League is difficult.

'It could have been seven or eight - Robinson has made terrific saves, we've hit the bar and Michael Owen's missed a chance he would normally score.'

Owen's goal was his third in as many matches despite playing in a deeper role, dropping into midfield.

'It is his position at Newcastle for the time being,' Keegan said. 'I said this is the position you have to play in this football club because that is where you are most use for us - and he said that's fine.

'He never came up to me and said 'I'm a forward'. I think he's enjoyed it.'

Owen has not started an England match under Fabio Capello yet but Keegan added: 'I think when the big games come Michael Owen will play.

'Fabio Capello needs asking why he hasn't played Michael because only he knows the answer.'

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos, meanwhile, is assessing the attitude of his players for the rest of the season, with European qualification secured already by winning the Carling Cup

'We're at a phase of the season that is not quite so important, so it's a chance to look at players and see the squad and make decisions for next season,' said the Spaniard.

Tottenham 2 Portsmouth 0

Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos continued with his knack of inspired substitutions as Darren Bent and Jamie O'Hara came off the bench to defeat Portsmouth 2-0.

Ramos made changes to turn the Carling Cup final around last month and he did the same in this Premier League clash at White Hart Lane.

With snow and sleet making chances difficult to come by, the game was fizzling out towards a goalless draw until Ramos made his move. Bent headed in the first goal 10 minutes from full-time, the 100th goal at Spurs' ground this season, before setting up O'Hara for the second.

Much of the focus prior to the game was on Jermain Defoe's absence from the Pompey line-up due to transfer rules and, with six goals in the six games since leaving Spurs, the visitors missed his lively presence.

Defoe left Spurs as he could not break Dimitar Berbatov's partnership with Robbie Keane - and although they were not the matchwinners, predictably it was Ramos' favoured pair that offered an early threat.

A flick from Berbatov almost sent through his strike partner, then after Pompey had to scramble clear an Aaron Lennon cross, Spurs' strikers combined again and David James was forced into a low save from Keane.

James saved from Tom Huddlestone's 25-yard free-kick before almost being embarrassed by Keane. The England goalkeeper threatened to make a mess of a throw out, then Keane tried to rob him of the ball when he returned to the pitch on the blindside of the goalkeeper.

Pompey survived and almost opened the scoring with their next move. Sean Davis, a former Spurs player, spotted Paul Robinson off his line but the goalkeeper was back to tip over the lob.

At the other end, Pascal Chimbonda flashed a volley just wide and Berbatov had the ball in the net in the 28th minute after Keane had slipped him through - but play was called back for offside.

Michael Dawson then thumped a volley onto the crossbar after chesting down Huddlestone's corner, while Berbatov curled over the bar when he found a yard of room on the edge of the area.

Just before the break, Huddlestone had another effort and drilled over the crossbar when the ball broke to him 20 yards out.

Pompey's first half suggested they were more focused on Wembley in a fortnight when they meet West Brom in the FA Cup semi-final - and in the early part of the second half there was more Spurs pressure.

Huddlestone tried his luck again and Lennon was also just off target - but there was a lack of clear chances, not helped by the conditions.

John Utaka picked up a booking for an aerial challenge on Chimbonda, and the Pompey winger also drilled in a dangerous cross when the visitors broke.

When the weather calmed down, much of the play was in the midfield - and it looked like a mistake or a moment of brilliance would determine the match.

Ramos responded by taking off Lennon and Dawson for Bent and O'Hara with 20 minutes left.

Robinson was almost caught out by Richard Hughes' quick free-kick, then he hesitated when he came to claim Glen Johnson's cross. Kanu stole the ball but Didier Zokora was back to clear.

Spurs made the most of the reprieve and Bent headed in 11 minutes from the end when Steed Malbranque's shot was blocked and Berbatov's scuffed effort fell into the path of the substitute.

Bent set up the second two minutes later, raiding down the left before crossing for O'Hara to tap into an empty net.

Tottenham Hotspur match-winner Darren Bent insisted he was happy to fight for his place at White Hart Lane after scoring one and setting up another in the 2-0 Premier League win over Portsmouth.

The teams had cancelled each other out until Bent took advantage of some scrappy defending in the 80th minute to hit the 100th goal at White Hart Lane this season.

He then produced a devastating run down the left to set up Jamie O'Hara for the second moments later.

But with strike duo Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov seemingly unmovable as the first-choice pairing, Bent is content to take his chances from the bench.

'I made a few substitute appearances this season and it's nice to go and do something and change the game,' he told Sky Sports.

'There's no point in sulking and coming on to the pitch and not doing anything.

'You've got to keep trying and see what happens. It was the same last season so I knew what it was all about.'

Spurs assistant boss Gus Poyet, was pleased with Bent's efforts.
'Bent opened up the whole situation, I always say substitutes don't always know how important they are. It's difficult, you know how many Robbie and Berba have scored in partnership, but if he keeps coming on and scoring goals he's going to get the chance.'

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp struggled after being forced into making half a dozen forced changes to his first-choice XI.

'With 10 minutes to go I was thinking 'we've got a good point'. But we defended poorly and got punished. We've had to make six changes and that's an awful lot of players.'

Tottenham 4 Chelsea 4

Chelsea lost ground in the Premier League title race after Robbie Keane's dramatic late equaliser earned a point for Tottenham in a thrilling 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane.

In a game that never stopped for breath, Didier Drogba's opener was cancelled out by Jonathan Woodgate before Michael Essien and Joe Cole established a two-goal cushion for the visitors.

Spurs staged a comeback and levelled through Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone, then Cole grabbed another 10 minutes from the end.

They were denied maximum points, though, when Keane found the top corner in the 88th minute before Berbatov was denied a late winner by a superb Carlo Cudicini save.

With Spurs naming the same side that defeated Chelsea in the Carling Cup final, Avram Grant's team could not gain revenge for their Wembley defeat.
Spurs have insisted that they have moved on from their triumph over the Blues last month but their three defeats since suggest otherwise, as did the big-screen reminder before kick-off showing highlights of their victory. At least they now have another famous match to remember.

Fabio Capello was in the stands to watch his England players distinguish themselves in a typically hectic London derby.

There was plenty for him to digest, starting with the pace of Aaron Lennon up against Ashley Cole down one flank.

Joe Cole was Chelsea's creative force, while Jermaine Jenas and Frank Lampard were up against each other in the centre, and John Terry had to try to keep Berbatov and Keane quiet.

Capello saw Terry set up the opener in the third minute.

Drogba's free-kick from 25 yards was blocked but the striker then made his way towards the far post. Claude Makelele found Terry on the left and his cross invited a powerful header from Drogba.

It could have been worse for Spurs three minutes later when Drogba turned on the edge of the area and forced a save from Paul Robinson; Joe Cole finished neatly but was ruled offside.

Capello then saw two of his England players combine for an 11th-minute equaliser.

After Lennon had been fouled by Makelele, Jenas swung over the cross from the right and Woodgate, unlike his ricocheted Wembley winner, thudded home his header.

England midfielder Cole, full of invention and energy, created the goal that put Chelsea back in front, in the 20th minute. He weaved his way through the Spurs defence then slipped through Essien, who chipped over Robinson as the goalkeeper rushed out.

The game was already at a frantic pace but the intensity heightened with a series of contentious decisions before the break.

The conduct of players has been highlighted this week through a new Football Association initiative, with hopes of more respect for officials.
Joe Cole, however, picked up a yellow card for dissent towards the assistant when a decision did not go his way.

The Spurs bench were then furious when Jenas appeared to be fouled by Lampard. Play was allowed to continue and Robinson was forced into action when Drogba drilled a shot from the edge of the area.

Spurs were raging again following Ashley Cole's high tackle on Alan Hutton, with Mike Riley issuing a yellow card.

'It's a red and you know it,'' protested Spurs assistant boss Gus Poyet to the fourth official.

Poyet then confronted Cole at the half-time whistle and they went face-to-face down the tunnel before the Spurs assistant went on to aim his anger at the referee.

The debate continued as the second half restarted, then Joe Cole extended Chelsea's lead seven minutes into the second period. Makelele fed him the ball and Cole went outside Pascal Chimbonda before getting his shot away.

Robinson got to the finish but the ball looped in.

Terry was needed at the other end to intercept a dangerous Steed Malbranque cross - but Berbatov pulled one back from the corner.
Huddlestone, on for Jenas at the break, delivered the set-piece and the Bulgarian outjumped Terry to head in.

Huddlestone levelled the match with 15 minutes remaining, drilling in powerfully after Keane's corner went to the far post.

Cole scored his second in the 80th minute, finding the top corner after getting past Chimbonda again - but Keane earned a point two minutes from time.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the area after the ball had hit Ricardo Carvalho on the back from a long clearance, he curled a delicious effort into the top corner. Berbatov could so nearly have won it too, but his right-foot shot was brilliantly blocked by Cudicini.

Avram Grant defended his record in high-profile matches this season after Chelsea lost ground in the Barclays Premier League title race with a thrilling draw at Tottenham.

With Manchester United defeating Bolton, Grant's men are now five points behind the league leaders with eight games remaining following Robbie Keane's dramatic late equaliser.

Grant still has an impressive percentage of victories but is yet to win a 'big'' game - against Manchester United or Arsenal in the league, Barnsley in the FA Cup or Tottenham in the Carling Cup final.

The 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane came after Chelsea opened the scoring and led 3-1 and 4-3.

'Every game in which we drop points is a big game,'' said Grant. 'If we won would it have been a big game? We lost against Barnsley and it became a big game. Every game we drop points is a big game.

'I can be happy only that, in the league, we haven't dropped that many points, otherwise there would have been more big games. Every game here is big. If we didn't win we wouldn't be in this position.

'What is a critical game? Every game at Chelsea is critical. If we'd lost other games, we wouldn't be in this position. Every game we win is a normal game. Every time we drop points is a big game.''

Despite putting in an impressive performance in front of England boss Fabio Capello, Cole was taken off towards the end as Chelsea looked to defend their lead.

Grant said: 'We wanted to play more in midfield, have one more in midfield because we knew they would play a direct ball. We wanted to pass the ball better. That's why we took him off.''

Grant was disappointed with his side's defending from set-pieces, adding: 'In the last two games Tottenham have scored six against us and five were from set-pieces. It is unusual for us.

'There are many positives to take from the game but we didn't win, which is disappointing. We showed a great spirit and, of course, we will continue to fight.''

The Blues face Arsenal at the weekend, where they can overtake their title rivals with a victory.

'We're closer to Arsenal now than we were before,'' Grant said. 'We'll be at home and we'll come to fight to win the game.''

Grant claimed his view was blocked for an incident just before the break when Ashley Cole caught Alan Hutton with a high tackle, earning the Chelsea full-back a yellow card.

'In this case the referee said it was a yellow card,'' said Spurs head coach Juande Ramos.

'But I've seen much less serious tackles that have seen players sent off, like Robbie Keane earlier in the season.''

Grant added: 'The referee was two or three metres from it so we have to respect that.'

Man City 2 Tottenham 1

Manchester City produced a spirited second-half fightback to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Eastlands and claim their first win in four Barclays Premier League matches.

Robbie Keane had put the visitors in the 32nd minute by clipping a left-footed shot past Joe Hart.

However, just before the hour Stephen Ireland poked home from close range before Nedum Onuoha's powerful header clinched a first victory since the Manchester derby on February 10.

Ireland's strike ended a six-hour 14-minute goal drought stretching back to that success over United and provided the catalyst for a much-improved display from Sven-Goran Eriksson's previously struggling side.

It was City's first win in six home matches and their first victory over Tottenham since April 2003.

For Spurs, however, the result capped a miserable week which saw them dumped out of the UEFA Cup on penalties by PSV Eindhoven.

It had all begun so well for the visitors as Keane went close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute as, after exchanging passes with Aaron Lennon, he turned Onuoha close to the byline but curled a shot with the outside of his right foot narrowly wide of the far post.

Benjani Mwaruwari and Nery Castillo then combined down the right before the Zimbabwe international was muscled out by Jonathan Woodgate at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing.

Richard Dunne, playing his 250th league match for City, fouled Dimitar Berbatov in the eighth minute but Jermaine Jenas curled the 30-yard free-kick straight into the arms of Hart.

Benjani and Castillo linked well down the right but when the former crossed low Michael Dawson prevented Michael Johnson getting a shot in.
City had a shout for a penalty when Johnson's shot struck Dawson, although television replays showed the ball came off his chest.

The rebound dropped to Elano, playing in an unfamiliar left wing position, and he curled in a cross which Benjani headed with little conviction, enabling Dawson to clear off the goalline.

Spurs finally made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute after Vedran Corluka's mistake on the halfway line set Pascal Chimbonda racing down the left.

His perfectly-weighted through-ball found Keane and the captain clipped a left-footed shot past Hart.

City's response was for Johnson to set Castillo free on the right but with no-one in support his shot from a narrow angle found the side-netting.

Elano's left-footed strike then forced Paul Robinson into a diving save as the hosts stepped up the tempo as the half drew to a close
Castillo had a chance seconds before the break when he burst clear of the defence but delayed his shot and the chance was lost.

Spurs made a change at the start of the second half with Tom Huddlestone replacing Lennon, meaning Jenas moved to right midfield.

City began where they left off before the interval and an incisive move involving Dunne, Elano and Ireland set up Benjani on the edge of the penalty area - but just as he was about to shoot Woodgate dived in to block.
Castillo then had a chance from close range but a combination of Dawson and Robinson charged down his effort.

Tottenham's first effort of the second half saw Huddlestone drive straight at Hart from 30 yards.

The pressure was building on the visitors and City equalised in the 59th minute, ending that long drought.

Benjani's left-wing cross was messed up by Castillo at the far post but Elano nodded the ball on to Ireland, who looked offside as he converted from close range.

It was a timely intervention as the midfielder was just about to be replaced by Darius Vassell - a substitution City immediately decided against.

Ramos sent on Jamie O'Hara for Malbranque and, somewhat controversially, Darren Bent for Keane in a 66th-minute double substitution.

It was not a move which pleased the Republic of Ireland international, who hurled his tracksuit top to the floor as sat down on the bench.

Vassell finally got his chance in the 71st minute, replacing Castillo, and his first touch won City a corner.

It was a telling contribution as from Elano's outswinging cross Onuoha outjumped the static Chimbonda to head powerfully past a helpless Robinson.

Bent had the ball in the net with five minutes to go but Berbatov was flagged offside before it even went in.

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was a relieved man after his side won for the first time in four matches, coming from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Eastlands.

It was their first win in six home matches and their first victory over Tottenham since April 2003.

This was also only the second time this season City had won after going behind.

'It was extremely important for us, we had had three games with no goals and three games with one point,' said Eriksson.

'I don't think we played badly in the first half but we should have been more lively and shown less respect.

'I think we did it in the second half and scored two goals. I think if you look at the game we deserved to win it.'

Eriksson said it was about time his side had some good luck.

'I don't remember when the linesman helped us the last time - it has been many times for the opposition,' said the Swede.

'I don't know if he did this time but I think we deserved to win, we created more chances than they did.'

On Ireland's goal he added: 'It's very difficult to see. Even if it is offside I think Spurs owe us one or two offsides.'

The defeat capped a miserable week for Tottenham after they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup on penalties by PSV Eindhoven.

Head coach Juande Ramos felt his players eased up after going in at half-time 1-0 up.

'We were so much in control of the game it maybe made our lads think that maybe the game was won before it was over,' he said.

'We were finding everything quite easy up to that point. I think the equaliser had two benefits: it picked them up and maybe then we struggled to keep control of the ball from that moment.

'The second goal was definitive because it decided the game and it was difficult to pick things up after that.'

Keane's controversial replacement by Darren Bent in the 66th minute provoked a petulant response, the Republic of Ireland international hurling his tracksuit top to the floor as he sat down on the bench.

Ramos said he did not see the incident but stressed players had to accept it was a squad game.

'I think it is normal. Players want to play and they are disappointed when they are replaced,' he said.

'It is football. We have got a squad and we have people on the bench and we have to share out the minutes between the people available.'

UEFA CUP PSV Eindhoven 0 Tottenham 1 (PSV wins on penalties 6:5)

Juande Ramos' dream of a UEFA Cup hat-trick ended despite a stunning Dimitar Berbatov volley as Tottenham crashed out on penalties against PSV Eindhoven in Holland tonight.

Ramos has endured a few scares winning the competition with Sevilla in the past two seasons - goalkeeper Andres Palop scored at this stage a year ago - and this time Berbatov came to his rescue.

The Bulgarian's ferocious drive cancelled out PSV's advantage from the first leg before the shoot-out, with PSV earning a place in the quarter-finals after Jermaine Jenas and Pascal Chimbonda failed from the spot.

Ramos tried everything to get the better of PSV but his luck in this competition finally ran out.

The Spaniard won the first of his UEFA Cups by defeating Middlesbrough at Eindhoven's ground and although he wanted a repeat performance from

Spurs, the first leg at White Hart Lane suggested it would never be as one sided.

Ramos' way around the stubborn Dutch champions was attempting new formations, starting with Didier Zokora as a holding midfielder and Jenas, returning from a twisted ankle picked up in the first leg, part of a trio in the centre.

The narrow approach meant there was no room for winger Aaron Lennon, who has been rested under Ramos twice but never dropped.

Earning a reputation as a man cannot be second-guessed, Ramos also brought Young-Pyo Lee in at left-back for his first appearace since Janaury.

Ramos spoke on the eve of the match about how the South Korea full-back had fallen down the pecking order - but under the Spaniard only the unpredictable can be expected.

When the new formation did not yield success, Ramos changed it again and again until Spurs were back in the match, although it did take Berbatov's moment of magic.

PSV had last weekend to rest after a police strike meant their clash against Ajax was called off, but their fresh players were hardly making the running and their most effective man was midfield destroyer Timmy Simons.

Berbatov created Spurs' first genuine chance when he charged down a clearance from Carlos Salcido. The ball was squared to Steed Malbranque but the finish was just wide of Gomes' near post.

From a corner, taken by Jenas, skipper Ledley King was found at the near post and flashed a header across the face of Gomes' goal - but it was a frustrating first half for Spurs.

Jenas picked up a booking for a trip on Jason Culina, ruling him out of Spurs' next European game, while King picked one up for a foul on former Liverpool full-back Jan Kromkamp.

Things changed for Spurs at the break when Ramos altered his tactics. He brought on Darren Bent for Lee, and the substitute wasted a glorious opportunity within two minutes.

Robbie Keane was slipped through by Malbranque and supplied a reverse pass - but Bent's shot lacked power and Gomes was able to claim at the second attempt.

PSV had an even better chance in the 55th minute. They fooled Spurs with a short free-kick and Culina chipped into the danger area. Offside players ran backwards, allowing Danny Koevermans a sight of goal from five yards out - but he miskicked his effort.

Berbatov got on the end of Tom Huddlestone's free-kick but glanced his header wide, before King was replaced by Lennon.

With the game opening up, Paul Robinson had to save at full-stretch from Ibrahim Afellay after a mix-up between Jenas and Zokora offered a chance. He would have had little chance if Jefferson Farfan's free-kick had not curled just wide.

Spurs then started going for broke. Bent raced through but squared to Keane rather than taking a shot himself.

Keane then looped a header over the crossbar and almost took advantage when Gomes decided to chest a ball rather than use his hands - but PSV were able to clear.

It was Berbatov's moment of brilliance, in the 82nd minute, which sent the game into extra-time. He met Chimbonda's driven cross with a first-time volley on the edge of the area that left Gomes with no chance.

Berbatov could have won the game with a volley in extra-time, as could Malbranque, but it went to penalties - and ended in heartbreak for the Barclays Premier League side.

Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos was given an introduction to English penalty shoot-out heartache as his UEFA Cup hat-trick dream ended against PSV Eindhoven.

Asked if he knew of the history of English teams losing their nerve in shoot-outs, Ramos said: 'I didn't know about it. When it comes to the fifth penalty it's heads or tails. That is how it is with penalties.'

Ramos has a reputation of being meticulous but is understood not to practice penalties in training.

'Every player in the Premier League is capable of scoring a penalty but in a situation like this you cannot train the pressure that comes with it,' he said.
'Everyone is sad in the dressing room but every player that takes a penalty is courageous, I can only congratulate them.'

Ramos changed his formation a number of times as Spurs chased the goal to cancel out PSV's one-goal advantage from the first leg.

Firstly he went with a narrow midfield, meaning Aaron Lennon was on the bench, then he played with three strikers for the start of the second half when he brought on Darren Bent.

'I don't regret not playing with Bent from the start, in the second half we played well, we wanted a goal and got it,' Ramos said.

Steed Malbranque wasted the only real chance of the first half, then Bent's arrival put pressure on the hosts.

Danny Koevermans did fluff an easy chance for PSV and Paul Robinson was tested, but Berbatov's strike sent the tie into an extra period.

The Bulgaria striker met Chimbonda's cross with a first-time volley that left Gomes with no chance. Ramos was only interested in his performance.

'He played a good match but I don't think it is his best match since I've been at Spurs,' he added.

Malbranque had a volley saved that could have won it, then in the shoot-out Robinson saved early on. Jenas could have won it, then Chimbonda went wide.

'We don't regret anything, we wanted to win the game and we won it, then penalties is like a lottery,' Ramos said. 'We didn't score the fifth penalty, if we scored that we would have been through.

'We have two months so I think they have to do their best. They need to get themselves together and charge up.'

Tottenham 4 West Ham 0

Dimitar Berbatov's two headers helped Tottenham towards victory at White Hart Lane as West Ham boss Alan Curbishley suffered his third consecutive 4-0 defeat.

Berbatov netted both of his goals early in the first half of the Barclays Premier League clash, with hopes of a Hammers comeback virtually ending when Luis Boa Morte was dismissed just before the break.

Gilberto came off the bench and added a third before Darren Bent headed a fourth.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos has now completed a London treble this season, defeating Arsenal and Chelsea in the Carling Cup and now bitter rivals West Ham.

It also ended Spurs' run of back-to-back defeats ahead of their UEFA Cup trip to PSV Eindhoven.

But West Ham's slump continued, following 4-0 defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool last week.

Their poor run saw Curbishley wake up to reports of his job being insecure. His response was to pick an attacking formation that fans have been craving this season.

Dean Ashton and Bobby Zamora were paired up front but, despite the latter being unfortunate with an early chance, they made little impact throughout.

Zamora took advantage of a Paul Robinson fumble but saw his finish loop over off team-mate Boa Morte.

Going into the clash in 10th and 11th, both teams knew they would not move up or down the table with victory or defeat. With the Carling Cup securing European football next season, Spurs have been accused of neglecting league matters.

'It is a matter of us showing professionalism,' said Ramos in his programme notes.

The Spaniard emphasised his point by picking a strong side, with just Ledley King rested and Jermaine Jenas out with a twisted ankle.

They were ahead after eight minutes, although Curbishley was protesting to fourth official Uriah Rennie near the tunnel and missed Berbatov's opener.

The Hammers boss was furious that Jonathan Spector, in place of injured Matthew Upson, had been penalised for a foul on Berbatov.

Tom Huddlestone swung over a free-kick from the right flank and Berbatov's header on the penalty spot skidded past Robert Green into the far corner.

The Spurs pair combined again three minutes later from the opposite flank with the same outcome. Berbatov's header this time beating Green at the near post.

It was too much for Freddie Ljungberg, who threw a water bottle to the touchline in disgust, while Alan Hutton was on the receiving end of a spiteful late tackle.

Huddlestone, creator of the first two, then almost added to the scoring when he got on the end of Aaron Lennon's cross, but his header was too high.

Boa Morte picked up his first booking after persistent fouling, and he was constantly battling with Hutton and Robbie Keane. Keane, in turn, angered Hammers fans with a gesture towards his own supporters acknowledging the recent Carling Cup triumph.

Steed Malbranque was the next to try his luck but his angled drive went wide of Green's post. Green also saved a Berbatov volley when another Huddlestone set-piece caused problems.

Boa Morte received his second yellow card a minute from half-time for a foul on Lennon.

There did not appear to be any complaints from the West Ham bench but Curbishley had words with referee Chris Foy in the tunnel at half-time, protesting about the foul leading up to the opener.

Huddlestone's effort went just wide early in the second half, while Ashton went over at the other end with a shot from the edge of the penalty area and Lucas Neill tested Robinson from a similar distance.

'We've only got 10 men,' chanted the West Ham fans. Despite the visitors applying pressure, Spurs could have added a third through Keane and Lennon when they broke.

Gilberto was brought on for Malbranque just before the hour mark for his Premier League debut, and Bent was given a run in place of Keane.

The third came when Gilberto scored with a shot on the turn, with six minutes remaining, after Lennon had dummied a Pascal Chimbonda pass. Bent added the fourth with a stoppage-time header.

Alan Curbishley is hopeful that his board understand the injury crisis he has faced as West Ham's season threatens to fizzle out following a third 4-0 defeat in a row.

Curbishley woke up to reports suggesting his job may be insecure, although he feels his board are sympathetic about the problems he has had with players missing during his first full campaign at the club.

'I think they are realistic about it but we'll have to see on that score because it's a results business,' the Hammers boss said.

'Up until this week we hadn't been too bad so we'll have to bounce back.'
He added: 'We're in football and nothing surprises anybody but I would have thought (they would understand). They are realistic about what has gone on. They get the update every Monday of the injury situation.

'Any other team that has had six or seven out every week would find it difficult. You can see the difference in teams with settled sides.'

Anton Ferdinand was to blame for Berbatov's two goals, both free headers from Tom Huddlestone free-kicks.

'He was nowhere to be seen,' said Curbishley.

'He's got to dig in, he gave a penalty away against Chelsea early in the game and put us on the back foot.

'You can't allow centre-forwards to have free headers.

'Berbatov didn't have to jump. Then straight away there was another one. It's difficult to come back from it.'

Curbishley was upset with Jonathan Spector being penalised for fouling Berbatov leading up to the opener.

'He fell over in stages,' the Hammers boss added.

'They (referees) spend all week on this and that and looking at videos and perhaps they have got to realise one or two things that were going on.'

Curbishley had no complaints, though, when Luis Boa Morte was dismissed for two bookings, the second coming a minute before the break.

'We took two wallopings going into the game and I asked for more aggression and application,' he said.

'He was done for persistence.

'Luis put a wholehearted performance in but he's on thin ice and has to make sure he gets to half-time. He hasn't and that has killed us off a bit.'

Gilberto made his Barclays Premier League debut when he came off the bench and he scored with a finish on the turn, then Bent headed in the fourth in stoppage-time.

'We put ourselves in a position where we expect to finish in the top half,' Curbishley added.

'We've lost three games on the spin and we're still there so it's all to play for still.

'The pressure when you lose three games 4-0 is there, and we have to bounce back. We all have to. It's only them that can go out and do it.

'We have to regroup and get on. There are not many options with our injury situation and we have to just get on. Our aim is to finish in the top half and as high as we can, and we can still do that. It's a long way back for us.'

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos was pleased with his side's response after two defeats since winning the Carling Cup.

'The goals made it easier and we were in control for a large part of the match,' said the Spaniard.

'It was important to have a victory to recover people's esteem.'

The only negative aspect of the afternoon was Jonathan Woodgate taking a knock to his foot and calf and getting taken off as a precaution.

UEFA CUP - Tottenham 0 PSV Eindhoven 1

Gilberto suffered a nightmare Tottenham debut at White Hart Lane as PSV Eindhoven earned a slender 1-0 advantage to take to Holland next week.

Spurs coach Juande Ramos billed this last-16 clash as the barometer of whether his side could win the UEFA Cup - but it was the Dutch champions that looked more likely to be at Eastlands in May.

Although it was a deflating evening for Ramos' players, none were as disappointing as Gilberto; the Brazil full-back was booked, was at fault for Jefferson Farfan's winner and was was taken off at half-time.

It means consecutive defeats since winning the Carling Cup less than a fortnight ago. Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter, injured and ineligible respectively, paraded the trophy in a lap of honour before kick-off, rather than the entire squad.

"The cup celebrations are well and truly behind us, it is back down to business,'' wrote Ramos in his programme notes, but the Wembley hangover was still evident when play got under way.

PSV may have lost the experienced players that took them to the latter stages of the Champions League in recent seasons, but the younger players appear to have embraced the club's European traditions.

Fenerbahce's efforts this week have also put into context Sef Vergoossen' men dropping down into the UEFA Cup this campaign - Spurs found them difficult to break down and Farfan caused the hosts constant problems.

He had the first shot of the match, after 15 minutes, but Paul Robinson was able to easily save the tame effort.

The Peru international then almost took advantage when Didier Zokora allowed the ball to bounce from a PSV clearance. He raced through and was hauled down by Gilberto, earning the full-back a yellow card on his miserable first clash outing his new club. Farfan's resulting free-kick was deflected wide.

All Spurs had to show for their opening efforts was Jonathan Woodgate's looping header that Gomes claimed after initially looking out of position.

Woodgate was back at the heart of the Spurs defence with Ledley King after recovering from a sprained ankle, while skipper King returned after resting his knee.

Neither were at fault for Farfan's 34th-minute opener.

Aaron Lennon's poor free-kick was cleared and Farfan broke forward.

Lennon did get back to intercept but when the ball fell to Gilberto, the full-back took a touch too many and Farfan dispossessed him before finishing powerfully beyond Robinson.

Steed Malbranque tried to reply immediately for Spurs but his effort from the edge of the area deflected wide. He also had a far-post volley saved by Gomes.

Jermaine Jenas then crossed for Woodgate to head just wide of the post.

It could have got worse for them but Edison Mendez had a drive saved by Robinson, and the goalkeeper almost set up an equaliser with the huge kick that followed. Robbie Keane controlled the towering clearance and nut-megged his defender but Gomes was equal to his finish.

Gilberto's horrendous evening ended at half-time when he was taken off for Jamie O'Hara as Spurs looked for a way back into the tie, although the substitute was needed to block another Farfan effort on the edge of the penalty area.

Farfan laid on another chance on the hour mark when PSV broke, with King backing away towards his own goal, but Ibrahim Afellay's finish curved wide.

When they raided forward again, the visitors mercifully kicked the ball out of play for Jenas to receive treatment to an injury, with the midfielder carried off on a stretcher and Tom Huddlestone coming on.

Dimitar Berbatov was enduring a frustrating evening but he managed to find Pascal Chimbonda at the far post, only for the full-back to head over the crossbar.

King came off for Adel Taarabt as Spurs chased the game, but the Dutch league leaders still threatened and Robinson had to tip a Farfan effort around the post and Jan Kromkamp had an effort disallowed.

Gomes was needed to save from Keane and O'Hara flashed a volley just wide before the end.

Birmingham 4 Tottenham 1

Mikael Forssell repaid the faith shown in him by Birmingham boss Alex McLeish as his hat-trick ensured Tottenham suffered a massive Carling Cup hangover with a 4-1 defeat.

The Finnish international, dogged by injuries for the past three years, was restored to the Blues' starting line-up as McLeish looked for his side to become more ruthless in front of goal.

And Forsell demonstrated the clinical finishing which had brought him 19 goals during the 2003-04 campaign, with Sebastian Larsson adding the other goal. All Spurs could manage was an injury-time consolation from Jermaine Jenas.

It enabled Blues to complete their first league double over Spurs for 32 years and gave them a massive lift in their bid to avoid relegation.

McLeish's side ended their eight-game run without a win which stretched back to Boxing Day, with Forsell and James McFadden causing all sorts of problems for a makeshift Spurs defence missing the injured Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.

Forssell had lasted only three minutes against Arsenal last weekend as McLeish was forced to reorganise following the sending-off of Martin Taylor.

But on this occasion he was able to show the form which persuaded ex-City boss Steve Bruce to pay £3million to Chelsea for his services before being struck down by knee problems.

Tottenham came crashing down to earth with a bang after their Wembley triumph over Chelsea and never threatened to fire on all cylinders.

Birmingham fans paraded a banner in support of Martin Taylor in response to his tackle on Arsenal striker Eduardo who suffered a broken leg last weekend.

Spurs full-back Pascal Chimbonda moved to centre-back alongside Kaboul in the absence of King and Woodgate.

Birmingham, with a strong wind in their favour, went ahead after seven minutes through Forssell's fifth goal of the campaign after Tom Huddlestone had conceded the first corner of the game.

Gary McSheffrey's centre picked out Liam Ridgewell, whose header looked to be going wide. But McFadden reacted quickly and turned the ball back across goal to Forssell, who made no mistake with a close-range header.

It was a welcome boost for the Finnish international, who had to be taken off after only three minutes of the Arsenal clash in a tactical move after Taylor's sending-off.

Spurs retaliated and midfielder Jamie O'Hara was only a yard wide with a rasping left-footed drive which had Maik Taylor hurrying across his goal.

But Spurs defender Alan Hutton was relieved when he glanced a header just wide of his own goal from an inswinging free-kick by McSheffrey.

A mix-up between Muamba and Radhi Jaidi allowed Berbatov a run at goal and his 20-yard shot thumped against the post with Maik Taylor well beaten.

Ridgewell came to City's rescue with a vital clearance from inside his own six-yard box after a low cross-shot from Steed Malbranque had evaded Taylor.

Spurs were now enjoying more of the possession and the dangerous O'Hara again tested Taylor with a low shot which swerved at the last minute after cutting inside.

Johnson became the first player to be yellow-carded in first half injury-time for a foul on Hutton.

Ramos made a double half-time substitution, bringing on leading scorer Robbie Keane and midfielder Jermaine Jenas in place of Malbranque and Tainio.

Blues started the second half on the offensive and Robinson had his palms stung by a fierce rising drive from McFadden.

Then a left-wing centre from McSheffrey picked out the unmarked Forssell, whose downward volley was turned over the bar by Robinson as the ball bounced up.

Then after 55 minutes a superb free-kick from Larsson doubled Birmingham's lead. Blues full-back David Murphy created the opportunity with a run towards the Spurs box before being brought down by Zokora.

Up stepped Larsson and the Swedish international curled his free-kick over the defensive wall and past the despairing dive of Robinson.

The cheering had hardly died down before Forssell struck for the second time in the game four minutes later to put Birmingham 3-0 ahead.

Larsson's fizzing centre was deflected towards his own goal by Chimbonda and it needed Robinson at full stretch to fingertip the ball away. But Forssell was quick to react in firing the loose ball into the corner of the net from a narrow angle.

Taylor tipped over a glancing header from Keane and then palmed over a fierce drive from Huddlestone.

Forssell was denied a hat-trick when his shot was blocked by Chimbonda after good play by Larsson.

But with nine minutes remaining, Forssell completed his treble with a cool finish after McFadden had set up the opportunity.

Jenas scored a consolation goal in injury-time for woeful Spurs.
McLeish hails Forssell

Alex McLeish hailed the ruthless finishing of Birmingham striker Mikael Forssell as his hat-trick stunned Tottenham and earned the club their first win since Boxing Day.

The 26-year-old has been plagued by injury problems since scoring 19 goals for Blues during the 2003-2004 campaign.

But he rewarded McLeish for bringing him back into the side to leave Spurs with a massive hangover after their Carling Cup victory.

McLeish said: 'I'm really pleased for Mikael. I've had him in and out of the team since I came here but the lack of goals in previous weeks meant I had to push his experience back into the team.

'He was merciless in front of goal. He could have had four or five goals but his link-up play was also good. He had a terrific game.

'He's had a lot of injury problems and when they are of that magnitude it is going to have some effect.

'It is a case of whether he can play 40 games a season but, when he is as hot as that, we have to wrap him in cotton wool.'

McLeish praised the overall performance of his side as they gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a massive lift.

He said: 'We have deserved more from previous games at St Andrews and this time we got our reward.

'It was worth the wait. It was a fantastic show. The players' work rate in every game cannot be faulted but this time we also added the finishing touch.

'People might make headlines about the fact Tottenham were suffering a hangover from winning the cup but I have played in cup finals and it can go either way.

'Sometimes the following week you feel invincible and sometimes you can get beaten but I just told the players to ignore these theories and play to the standard of previous games.

'They not only did that, but they also gained me another 10% on top which was brilliant.'

Spurs boss Juande Ramos refused to blame allowing his players to celebrate the cup win for their lacklustre performance at St Andrews.

He said: 'When a team achieves a big victory like we did last week, then they deserve to have a big party to celebrate.

'They had sufficient time after that to have made a full recovery and I am not using that as an excuse for today's result.

'Of course, I am not happy with the performance. No manager could be happy with losing 4-1.

'The game started off with us conceding an early goal which made it difficult for us. The principle problem was our players did not show sufficient attention to the intricacies of the game. That was the problem.

'We had to get a response to that goal but it did not work out for us. It was a very different match to the one against Chelsea and the players were showing less than full concentration.

'The team must not relax and I hope they can show what they are made of later this week in the UEFA Cup against PSV Eindhoven.'

Midfielder Sebastian Larsson scored Birmingham's other goal and Jermaine Jenas got a late consolation for the visitors.