Wednesday 7th January 2004
A week is a long time in football, just ask David Pleat who saw his Spurs team follow up a stylish demolition of Crystal Palace with a comprehensive victory over Steve Bruce's Birmingham City.
Spurs have halted their slide of four straight league defeats against a Birmingham team in free-fall.
The home side set out their stall to attack from the first whistle and Robbie Keane had his fourth minute effort ruled out for offside Spurs, though, did not have to wait long for the lead when, in the tenth minute, Stephane Dalmat fired them ahead with a superb left-footed drive.
The Frenchman sold Darren Carter a fantastic dummy on the edge of the box and drove the ball through a crowd into the bottom corner of the net leaving Maik Taylor no chance.
The visitors were outplayed in the first half and their only real chance came when David Dunn's curling drive was superbly tipped over the bar by Kasey Keller.
Dalmat continued to shine through in midfield as he taunted and dazzled the Birmingham midfield and soon got his second when, on 23 minutes, Robbie Keane blasted the ball across the face of the goal for the French striker to sidefoot the ball home from close range.
Tottenham continued to totally dominate the game and got their third when Simon Davies, returning from a long-term hip injury, steered home Johnnie Jackson's cross from the left.
Birmingham started the second half with a bit more fight and turned a one-sided affair into a thrilling encounter.
The visitors clawed one back on 67 minutes when Robbie Savage calmly stepped up and tucked home a penalty after Dalmat tangled with Dunn in the box.
Tottenham put the game beyond doubt when Keane and Kanoute exchanged passes and the Irishman sidefooted into an empty net after great build-up play from his strike partner.