THE presence of a Fox in the opposition clearly aroused Leicester City's sharper hunting instinct at White Hart Lane yesterday. Tottenham's present failings were frequently exploited as Martin O'Neill's team achieved their second victory since returning to the Premier League and their first away from home.

The performance should do as much for Leicester's confidence as the result, especially as they were forced, in effect, to win the match twice. Having held the lead Steve Claridge had given them after 21 minutes until the interval, they then missed a penalty and conceded one within a short space of time around the hour.

Clive Wilson having brought the scores level with Tottenham's penalty, Kasey Keller, Leicester's American goalkeeper, then defied Tottenham with a series of outstanding saves. When Emile Heskey hit a post Leicester seemed destined for a draw, but with five minutes remaining Ian Marshall's header brought them the victory they roundly deserved.

Marshall had replaced Claridge, injured in giving Leicester the lead. Signed from Ipswich last month for £800,000, the Liverpudlian looked a bargain at today's prices.

Spurs are in a mess. They have not won at White Hart Lane since the end of March and this was their second successive home defeat. Injuries have deprived them of Mabbutt, Sheringham, Armstrong and Austin, and yesterday they were a team of disparate parts.