The match was former Colchester captain Richard Wilkins' testimonial and Gary Doherty put Spurs ahead.

But Second Division Colchester had given the visitors a couple of scary moments and equalised through Gavin Johnson to go into half-time on level terms.

A revamped Spurs side took control after the interval and Oyvind Leonhardsen and youngster Lee Barnard both scored to see Tottenham to victory.

"I felt the second half team did better than the first," said Hoddle, who was without 11 first teamers including Jamie Redknapp and Stephen Carr.

"We were a bit slow out of the traps and didn't quite have enough guile and movement which we wanted, so that was a bit below par."