FA Cup: Coventry - 0 Tottenham - 2:Tottenham finally exorcised the ghost of 1987 last night as Gustavo Poyet continued his love affair with the FA Cup to help Glenn Hoddle's side set up a home fourth-round meeting with Bolton.
Poyet had scored six times in the competition, including two in the semi-final triumph over Newcastle, in helping Chelsea win the FA Cup in 2000. And the Uruguayan again showed his liking for the competition as he scored the opening goal at Highfield Road.
Les Ferdinand then made sure of victory for Tottenham early in the second half as they won in a canter.Spurs were quickly into their stride and the impressive Simon Davies sent a header straight at Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman when well placed from a Sergei Rebrov cross.
David Thompson, who was the Sky Blues' most effective player, was only just too high with a rising 20-yard drive which contained plenty of power.
But Tottenham were starting to turn the screw and it came as no surprise when they went ahead after 23 minutes through Poyet after Darren Anderton's cross.
Ferdinand was only just too high with a loping header from yet another dangerous Davies cross before Tim Sherwood was booked in first-half injury time for a tackle on Julian Joachim.
Tottenham gave themselves breathing space after just six minutes of the second half when the alert Ferdinand poached his 13th goal of the campaign.
COVENTRY: Hedman, Edworthy, Shaw, Breen, Konjic, Antonelius (Martinez 72), Thompson, Carsley (Quinn 69), Betts, Joachim, Bothroyd (Delorge 80). Subs Not Used: Hydlgaard, Fowler. Booked: Shaw, Konjic, Breen.
TOTTENHAM: Sullivan, King, Richards, Perry, Davies, Taricco, Sherwood, Poyet, Anderton (Leonhardsen 80), Ferdinand (Iversen 73), Rebrov. Subs Not Used: Keller, Etherington, Gardner. Booked: Sherwood. Goals: Poyet 23, Ferdinand 52.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
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