Premiership: Charlton 2 Tottenham 4Nothing that Tottenham do these days can be straightforward. Three goals ahead after 46 minutes last night, they avoided another complete collapse but did not secure this win without giving their fans worries.
When Chris Perry's header brought Charlton to within a goal with 10 minutes remaining, it seemed David Pleat's side might be heading for an encore of last week against Manchester City but a fine run and shot by Johnnie Jackson soon avoided that.
Both sides had wasted two chances by the time Spurs took a 10th-minute lead. A high ball forward by Jermain Defoe ought to have posed no danger but Paul Konchesky, perhaps thinking he was still on loan at Spurs, steered his header into the path of the lively Simon Davies, who scored with a low shot.
In the final minutes of the half, Charlton efforts thudded against post and bar. Graham Stuart saw a shot pushed on to the post by Kasey Keller. Then Carlton Cole struck the frame of the goal but by then Spurs were 2-0 up.
Keller rolled the ball out to Davies, who ran from about halfway unchallenged before crossing. Konchesky deflected it into the path of Defoe, who was fortunate to see the ball hit him and go in after Dean Kiely had saved his initial effort well.
More slack defending gave Spurs another inside the first minute of the second half. Robbie Keane twisted clear of Perry and set up Ledley King to score.
Pleat tapped his head from the sidelines to remind his team to stay focused but within five minutes Stuart had driven in a low shot to give Charlton hope.
CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Fish, Perry, Hreidarsson, Kishishev (Stuart 33), Jensen, Konchesky, Holland, Bartlett (Di Canio 55), Cole (Euell 71). Subs Not Used: Royce, Fortune. Booked: Fish, Young, Perry. Goals: Stuart 51, Perry 81.
TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Doherty, Richards, Taricco, Davies, Brown, King, Jackson, Keane, Defoe (Poyet 85). Subs Not Used: Burch, Bunjevcevic, Dalmat, Barnard. Goals: Davies 10, Defoe 43, King 46, Jackson 85. .
Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).
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