Defoe the destroyer rekindles the dream

Nick Townsend at White Hart Lane

Tottenham's association with the FA Cup, for so long a significant part of their tradition, has become confined to the archives, and ones increasingly gathering dust, at that. The eight-times winners have not reached the final for 14 years.

But a brace by the England striker Jermain Defoe - who was overlooked by Sven Goran Eriksson on Wednesday, but who here offered a reminder of his scoring prowess to the watching England coach - ensured that not only the fifth round, but the quarter-finals, too, beckon as their prize for this triumph. Eriksson might also have noted Spurs' successful switch from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 at half-time.

It was a victory which was uncertain until a decidedly contentious penalty decision turned the game their way, but it yields Martin Jol's side a home tie with Nottingham Forest on Sunday; a stricken, impoverished Nottingham Forest, one should stress, a team not only languishing in the lower reaches of the Coca-Cola Championship, but now weakened further by the loss of Andy Reid and Michael Dawson - both players acquired in the transfer window by, of all clubs, Tottenham.

This success was considerably more important to Spurs, who have lost touch with Europe, certainly the Champions' League, in their search for trophies to vindicate this season's multiple acquisitions, than their opponents.

Yet, you would have hardly known that for the first 40 minutes, in which the Baggies performed with a confidence that has been instilled into them in recent weeks by manager Bryan Robson. But for the vigilance of goalkeeper Paul Robinson, this tie could have been beyond Spurs.

Robbie Keane was returned to the starting line-up in the absence of striker Mido, a two-goal scorer on his debut against Portsmouth. He was ineligible for this round and instead went to Cairo to make a public apology to the Egyptian people after being banned from representing his country for indiscipline.

How Tottenham craved his scoring touch in a first half in which the London side looked a team unfamiliar with each other. It was not until nine minutes before the interval that they fashioned a decent opportunity, Jermain Defoe firing over.

By contrast West Bromwich's attitude in the first half reflected their manager in his pomp, and they displayed no mean skill on the ball. They went ahead after 12 minutes when Zoltan Gera's deep cross was dispatched past Paul Robinson with a magnificent header by Kanu, a man once appreciated in the other half of north London for his intricate close ball skills.

Three minutes later, Campbell burst through and was denied by Robinson. Then the inventive Kanu set up Paul Robinson - the Albion defender, that is. He attempted to steer the ball past his namesake, but the England man, on his 150th career appearance, saved.

Albion, who would regard Premiership security rather more relevant than a Cup run, were without the suspended Jonathan Greening, but that did not appear to matter as they continued to impress and, 10 minutes before the break, Campbell was again thwarted by the foot of Robinson.

Only approaching half-time did Spurs inject some urgency into their play. Neil Clement foiled Keane with one untidy challenge in the area, but referee Rob Styles appeared correct to deny penalty claims.

Goalkeeper Russell Hoult had been largely unemployed in that first half, but when he was finally called into action it proved to be his last participation in the game. He felled Stephen Kelly in the area, injuring himself so seriously in the process that he had to be replaced by the substitute Tomasz Kuszczak, as he stretched to deny the right-back - although TV replays suggested he had made contact with the ball first.

Referee Styles, however, was convinced it was a spot-kick and Keane duly drove home with aplomb past the replacement goalkeeper.

Spurs could surely only improve. They did, with a vengeance. Jol brought on Simon Davies for Robbie Keane at that stage, switched to 4-4-2 and it did the trick. Five minutes into the second half, Michael Carrick touched a free-kick into the path of Defoe and the England striker unleashed one of those fearful efforts into the roof of the net which not only offered the goalkeeper no hope, but also endangered his health.

Five minutes later, the England international was at it again. Kanouté cut the ball back with precision, and the 22-year-old striker despatched a low drive past Kuszczak, who had done very little apart from collect the ball from his net on three occasions.

After that, Spurs coasted, although Kuszczak did save well from Michael Brown and Davies while Clement tested Robinson's reflexes. Jol's men march on to Cardiff? Robson could only look on morosely, and reflect on what might have been had he had a Defoe at his disposal.