Ricard double trouble for Pleat

Tottenham's mini-revival in the post-Christian Gross era fizzled out tamely as Middlesbrough, with Paul Gascoigne returning to White Hart Lane, tore David Pleat's team to shreds.

Fortified by a stern, resilient defence and Colombian star Hamilton Ricard's splendidly delivered double strike within the space of seven first-half minutes, Middlesbrough moved impressively to their second successive away victory that left Spurs' hopes of winning three matches in a row for the first time in nearly three years in ruins.

Indeed had it not been for the athletic saves of young Norwegian Espen Baardsen, Tottenham, despite a mountain of possession, would have been even more severely embarrassed.

Even Baardsen finally suffered the lethargy which affected the rest of his team-mates when his fumble allowed Middlesbrough to plunder a third goal three minutes from the end.

Caretaker boss Pleat will have to go straight back to the drawing board to lay plans which will revive this sad Tottenham team before the new manager comes in.

French ace David Ginola compounded Spurs' misery by having his most ineffective game for a long time, totally marked by Italian defender Gianluca Festa and even the introduction of three Spurs substitutes early in the second half made little difference to a team short on penetration and finish.

For Middlesbrough, though, it was an afternoon of satisfying quality when their teamwork was beyond question and their spirit unquenchable.

Gascoigne, last seen in a Spurs shirt nearly seven years ago, was able to come back to his old stamping ground and stroll through the match in a holding midfield role, occasionally delivering his accurate passes and still proving too good in the tackle for the modern day Tottenham players who had succeeded him so unsteadily.

He was afforded a generous ovation from his former fans when replaced by Vladimir Kinder six minutes from the end. In truth they had had little else to cheer.

And the arrival of the Slovakian substitute left them with their final humiliation. When his 20yard drive following a half-cleared Andy Townsend corner was fumbled over the line by Baardsen for Middlesbrough's third goal.

By then Middlesbrough were coasting home, their work ethic handsomely rewarded by Ricard's stunning one-two between the 25th and 32nd minutes.

The Colombian had already set up a chance for the industrious Townsend whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Baardsen, when he carved a familiar path through the centre of Tottenham's defence.

A neat exchange of passes with his Danish co-striker Mikkel Beck took Ricard clear and he buried a clinical right-foot drive.

The combination and finishing quality was almost exactly the same just after the half hour when Ricard flicked Dean Gordon's throw-in over his shoulder and peeled off his marker to meet Beck's return pass and defeat Baardsen once more with the power of his shot.

For all their pressure and possession Spurs took 37 minutes to launch a worthwhile shot on goal when Ginola's free-kick from outside the box had Mark Schwarzer at full stretch to save. Then, just before the break, Les Ferdinand headed over from Steve Carr's cross on the run.

But even all the substitutions soon after the interval failed to galvanise Tottenham to greater effect. And in the closing minutes after what had long become a lost cause, one of the new arrivals Chris Armstrong featured in three incidents which summed up the misery of the day for his team.

He totally lost control when clear on Ferdinand's flick into the penalty box before diving full length at the far post to miss Carr's cross by a whisker.

And right at the end when the Spurs' fans were walking out in their droves Armstrong's shortrange header came back off the post.

Pleat admitted afterwards: "It was a very poor performance. We lacked purpose and guile and it's hard to equate with the game last Wednesday when we beat Blackburn.

"We were slow starters and never showed any real conviction. And you know that when you go two down at home it is going to be very hard to get back.

"We tried our best but didn't have that bit extra in our game.

"Middlesbrough often had nine men behind the ball but that's a classical away performance. You know you are going to face that.

"We just didn't seem to have that zip and we made it a field day for Schwarzer and Pallister, who were just able to sit back and defend their two early goals. We were too flat.

"The players know they were poor. Not many of them can go away with their heads held up."

Tottenham Hotspur: Baardsen, Carr, Tramezzani, Berti, Calderwood, Nielsen (Saib 51), Fox (Sinton 56), Ferdinand, Ginola, Campbell, Clemence (Armstrong 46). Subs Not Used: Segers, Vega. Booked: Berti, Ginola.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gordon, Vickers, Festa, Pallister, Mustoe, Gascoigne (Kinder 85), Beck (Campbell 90), Townsend, Ricard (Branca 67), Cooper. Subs Not Used: Beresford, Stockdale. Goals: Ricard 25, 32, Kinder 87.

Referee: S W Dunn (Avon).