BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Keane brace sinks Bolton

Tottenham 3-1 Bolton

Two goals from Robbie Keane helped Spurs to a hard-earned victory over resilient Bolton, a win which lifts Glenn Hoddle's men to third in the table.

Nervy Spurs looked to have blown their chance after allowing Youri Djorkaeff to equalise Keane's opener.

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But substitue Gus Poyet, making his first appearance of the season after coming back from injury, set up Keane's second and settled Spurs' nerves.

Key moments

48 mins: Carr shot tipped on to bar by Jaaskelainen

58 mins: Keane fires Spurs ahead

64 mins: Djorkaeff equalises for Bolton against the run of play

73 mins: Keane finishes off Poyet's cross to restore Spurs' lead

90 mins: Davies' late volley seals victory

Simon Davies' late volley sealed the win which was no more than Tottenham deserved after dominating possession.

But stubborn Bolton's attempts to stifle Spurs' threat looked likely to yield a point for much of the game.

Djorkaeff sent a 20-yard free-kick just over for Bolton in the opening minute, but Spurs came back with Keane fashioning a couple of half-chances.

Bolton should have taken the lead on the quarter-hour when Michael Ricketts sent the ball inches wide from inside the box.

Keane should have done better on 25 minutes, when he sent a free header wide after a fabulous cross from Davies.

We have taken only one point in the last 15 and it is looking very bleak

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce

But it was becoming a frustrating half for Spurs who were unable to turn their possession into clear chances.

Teddy Sheringham was at the heart of their most threatening moves, feeding Davies on 35 minutes, although the Welsh star was unable to control the ball.

A well-worked free-kick almost gave them the breakthrough on 40 minutes, when Keane passed to Jamie Redknapp, who teed himself up and smashed a 20-yard volley just wide.

Youri Djorkaeff
Djorkaeff equalised against the run of play

Spurs began the second half in determined fashion, and on 49 minutes Stephen Carr nearly marked his return with a goal, his shot being tipped on to the bar and over by Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

But Spurs were nearly caught by a sucker punch on 56 minutes when Djorkaeff picked out Ricketts who shot disappointingly off target.

The home side's constant pressure paid off on 58 minutes when Keane broke the deadlock, firing home from six yards after being picked out by a pass from Davies.

Yet Glenn Hoddle's men were guilty of complacency, and were caught napping six minutes later when Djorkaeff equalised.

Simon is playing with bundles of confidence and Robbie is a wonderful talent

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle

The Frenchman displayed a cool head to control a defence-splitting through ball by Kevin Nolan, and rifle past Kasey Keller.

Bolton's fans and players breathed a huge sigh of relief, feeling they had got out of jail.

But the return of fans' favourite Poyet, on for Matthew Etherington, sparked a second goal for Spurs - and a second for Keane - on 73 minutes.

The Uruguayan raced clear inside the box and squared for the Irishman who fired in off the post.

Sheringham missed a sitter with nine minutes remaining as Spurs looked to seal victory. But seal it they did on 90 minutes with a beautifully-placed Davies volley which rattled in off the post.

Tottenham: Keller, Carr, Perry, Bunjevcevic, Richards, Etherington (Poyet 70), Davies, Redknapp, Freund, Sheringham, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Hirschfeld, Doherty, Iversen, Acimovic.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Charlton, Bergsson, Nolan, Whitlow, Djorkaeff (Okocha 75), Campo (Dean Holdsworth 77), Farrelly, Barness, Gardner, Ricketts.
Subs Not Used: Poole, Frandsen, Armstrong.

Booked: Nolan.

Attendance: 35,909

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).