Tottenham Hotspur grabbed a vital 3-2 away victory over Middlesbrough to remain in pursuit for the UEFA Cup spot next season.


Spurs occupy eighth place in the Premiership table on 53 points and one game in hand, five adrift of fifth-placed Bolton.

Follow up:

Egypt midfielder Hossam Ghaly started for Spurs before being substituted in the 71st minute by Aaron Lennon, while his compatriot Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' did not show up.


Tottenham's on-fire striker Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the 12th minute after being set up by his magnificent strike partner Dimitar Berbatov.


Ghaly provided the second for Berbatov two minutes after the break and the Bulgarian hit man unleashed a superb cracking volley to double the lead.


Mark Viduka pulled one back for Middlesbrough after 66 minutes, but the in-form Keane made it eight goals in five Premiership games for his name when he added a third seven minutes from time after good work from Lennon.


Emmanuel Pogatetz's 89th minute goal was just a consolation for the home side who were unlucky to be denied several times by Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.


If Tottenham Spurs, as expected, win their match in hand at Charlton they will jump up to 5th place. They are trying hard and on track to guarantee European qualification and avoid the summer wrath of Intertoto Cup action.



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