Tottenham - 4 Bolton Wanderers - 0Bolton will be glad there are no more cup competitions in which they can be humiliated at Tottenham. Beaten 6-0 here in the English Cup in December, the Trotters got off relatively lightly last night thanks to six excellent Jussi Jaaskelainen saves.
Spurs dominated from start to finish, and Darren Anderton enhanced his England claims with an impressive performance in which he won and scored a penalty for their first goal, and had a hand in the next two by Steffen Iversen and Matthew Etherington.
Long before the lively Etherington forced Bolton into an own goal the visitors were well beaten. Tottenham, who continue to save their best for the cups, are at home to Tranmere in the next round.
Bolton's manager Sam Allardyce had made it clear beforehand that his priority lies in avoiding relegation from the top flight rather than in chasing cup glory. Wanderers arrived without a victory over a Premiership team since mid-November and had already lost twice here this season, although Allardyce fielded a reserve side in the League Cup.
This was close to a full-strength XI, though, and it was Spurs who were weakened. Glenn Hoddle showed the importance he attaches to the League Cup final by leaving out Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand and Chris Perry, who were all one booking away from missing that game in Cardiff.
Even without Sheringham's promptings from deep, Spurs played some slick first-half football and had four chances to score inside 18 minutes. Three times they were impressively denied by Jaaskelainen, with one save particularly eye-catching.
When Darren Anderton gave Tottenham the lead with a penalty in the 21st minute it was scarcely a surprise. By that stage Bolton had not managed a significant goal threat. Anderton, Gustavo Poyet, Tim Sherwood and Steffen Iversen were heavily involved in Spurs' best moments and Etherington looked bright on his first start of the season.
Anderton was a major influence with his passing and was involved in a move which culminated in Jaasekelainen saving from Poyet. If that stop was good, the one the Finn made from Iversen's header shortly after was breathtaking.
It seemed only a matter of time before Spurs made the breakthrough. After Jaaskelainen had denied Iversen again, it came. A neat run of Spurs passes ended with Poyet's header picking out Anderton's run into the area. He was tripped by Anthony Barness and got up to dispatch the penalty.
Anderton had a major role in the second in the 35th minute. Dean Richards' chip found him on the right, with Ricardo Gardner out of position, and Anderton crossed for Iversen to poke home.
Bolton were often caught offside on the rare occasions they threatened, and Spurs continued to control the play and threaten further goals.
Their third came in the 55th minute courtesy of Etherington and more neat play.
Mauricio Taricco's cross was cushioned by Iversen into Anderton's path and although Jaaskelainen saved the shot, Etherington knocked in the rebound.
The former Peterborough winger then set up the fourth with a great run and cross which went in via Barness.
TOTTENHAM: Sullivan, Richards, King, Taricco (Leonhardsen 75), Thatcher, Anderton (Thelwell 75), Sherwood, Etherington, Poyet, Rebrov, Iversen. Subs Not Used: Keller, Ferdinand, Sheringham. Goals: Anderton 22 pen, Iversen 35, Etherington 56, Barness 73 og.
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Barness, Whitlow (Buchanan 45), Bergsson, Nolan (Johnson 64), Gardner, Southall, Farrelly, Hansen, Pedersen (Holdsworth 62), Ricketts. Subs Not Used: Poole, Norris. Booked: Whitlow, Nolan.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
