Tottenham find form

Tottenham Hotspur avoided the obvious banana skin at the Sixfields Stadium last night to stride fairly comfortably into the fourth round of the Worthington Cup. George Graham's side had to come from a goal down but in the end they were just too powerful for a Northampton team who needed more than just spirit and fight to produce an upset.

Tottenham had gone against the recent fashion for big clubs in this competition and fielded their strongest side, showing just one change from Saturday's victory over Newcastle with Steffen Iversen, who scored twice in that game, starting in place of the injured Les Ferdinand.

A wet night on a pudding of a pitch against a struggling Second Division team which knocked West Ham out of the last round, offered Graham a chance to see his players facing a stern test. And the early signs last night were not encouraging as little Northampton went ahead on the half-hour.

Standing water impeded Allan Nielsen's back pass to Espen Baardsen and the goalkeeper hurried his clearance. The ball fell to the midfielder Sean Parrish who produced a high-class lob over Baardsen.

Northampton's fairytale lead lasted just nine minutes as Andy Woodman, having made a fine save from Iversen, showed his worst side. Stephen Carr floated in a cross from the right which the goalkeeper only half touched away. The ball fell to Iversen, whose shot was blocked but fell straight to Chris Armstrong who brought his side level.

Tottenham had the perfect start to the second half. Just 78 seconds after the restart the took the lead. David Ginola's corner finally fell to Sol Campbell who, from 10 yards, thrashed the ball into the net through a crowd of players.

It was the increasingly adventurous England defender's fourth goal in six games, and he nearly added another on 62 minutes when he met a second Ginola corner with a firm header which Woodman did well to beat away.

Tottenham were firmly in the ascendancy and on 76 minutes should have gone further ahead when Ginola missed a penalty.

On 81 minutes they finally did extend their lead when Anderton's cross from the right was headed home by Armstrong.

Northampton: Woodman, Gibb, Frain, Sampson, Hodgson, Hill (Witter 59), Hunt, Wilkinson (Warner 70), Corazzin, Freestone, Parrish. Subs Not Used: Lee, Wilson, Turley.

Tottenham: Baardsen, Carr, Edinburgh, Campbell, Calderwood, Nielsen, Scales, Ginola (Clemence 89), Anderton, Iversen, Armstrong (Allen 89). Subs Not Used: Walker, Sinton, Vega. Referee: G Poll (Tring).