Spurs bounce back in style

Tottenham 4 Middlesbrough 0:ROBBIE KEANE'S first goal since returning to Tottenham and a double from Aaron Lennon ensured there was no League Cup hangover for Harry Redknapp's men against Middlesbrough.

Keane opened the scoring before Roman Pavlyuchenko and Lennon added to the scoreline before the break as Spurs moved closer to mid-table after starting the match two points above the Premier League relegation zone.

Lennon then added a fourth in the second half at White Hart Lane and it was just the response Spurs boss Redknapp wanted after losing on penalties to Manchester United, a clash Keane was cup-tied for after playing three minutes earlier in the competition for Liverpool. That was part of an unhappy six months at Anfield – but he helped erase those memories with the opener in the ninth minute.

Luka Modric’s corner was flicked on by Michael Dawson and Keane stabbed home from close range.

Tuncay Sanli thought he had equalised when he latched on to Stewart Downing’s long pass and finished off, only for the assistant referee to halt his celebrations.

Pavlyuchenko rubbed salt into the wound by adding the second in the 14th minute, finishing off Modric’s cross from six yards out after the Croatia playmaker turned Robert Huth.

Keane should have extended the lead 10 minutes before the break when Modric weighted a pass through and Brad Jones had to rush out to block the finish but the Spurs skipper then helped set up the third.

Almost the whole of the Spurs team had a hand in the goal as they strung together pass after pass, but it was Keane who threaded the ball through Huth’s legs to give Lennon a clear run on goal. Lennon followed up his Wembley performance with a cool finish.

Lennon added the fourth with 11 minutes remaining, chipping home after Keane slipped him through.

TOTTENHAM: Gomes, Zokora, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Jenas (Huddlestone 64), Modric (O'Hara 73), Pavlyuchenko (Bent 53), Keane. Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bentley, Chimbonda, Corluka. Goals: Keane 9, Pavlyuchenko 14, Lennon 40, 79.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Jones, Hoyte (Adam Johnson 70), Wheater, Huth (Taylor 46), Pogatetz, O'Neil, Bates, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere (King 53), Sanli. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Emnes, Alves, Walker. Booked: Pogatetz.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).