Three Spurs goals in the first twenty two minutes ensured it was a bleak day for Wanderers at White Hart Lane and even a Gary Speed penalty shortly before the break did little for Bolton's enthusiasm.

Pre-game the general opinion was that the Trotters team bonding exercise in Spain would give them an overall advantage over Tottenham but the first half display made it hard to work out who had been in warmer climes.

Defenders Nicky Hunt and Abdoulaye Faye returned to the Bolton starting line up after illness and injury but Faye's involvement lasted just twenty five minutes as he picked up yet another knock meaning midfielder Ivan Campo rolled back the years to once again turn out in defence.

Spurs looked threatening throughout the contest and Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane in particular linked up well to cause the Wanderers backline no end of problems.

It was no surprise to see the hosts take the lead on eleven minutes when Berbatov's deft touch made it's way into the path of Keane who duly smashed the ball home past Jussi Jaaskelainen from a tight angle.

Bolton felt that Bulgarian striker Berbatov had fouled Faye in the build up to the goal but referee Graham Poll ignored the protests and allowed the goal to stand.

The Wanderers nearly got themselves back into the game moments later but for a smart point blank save from England goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Gary Speed's accurate diagonal ball from the left was held up by El-Hadji Diouf and he laid the ball back into the path of Nicky Hunt who delivered a pinpoint cross which Stelios Giannakopoulos headed straight at Robinson.

It was a warning sign for Spurs but sadly for Bolton they did not do enough in the final third of the field throughout the game and where therefore made to pay heavily.

Spurs doubled their lead in the nineteenth minute when midfielder Jermaine Jenas guided the ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen with his knee. Robbie Keane's awkward shot had been saved initially by the Bolton keeper Jaaskelainen but Jenas was on hand to follow up from a couple of yards.

Two minutes later Keane fired home his second goal of the game and Spurs third to effectively end the game as a contest. The Republic of Ireland captain stole in at the near post to poke home a cross by former Wigan Athletic defender Pascal Chimbonda to leave Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce seething.

Just before the half hour mark the confident Keane could have so easily sealed his hattrick as a shot from the right corner of the Bolton corner just shaved past the post.

Korean full back Lee Young-Po prevented Stelios Giannakopoulos from bringing Bolton back into the game but from the resulting corner from Gary Speed the game was back on again.

Speed's delivery from the right was met by Ivan Campo but goalscorer Keane was adjudged to have handled the Spaniard's header on the goalline and was therefore dismissed by referee Poll amid much protest.

Bolton converted their spot kick through Speed who kept his calm not for the first time this season but the Wanderers where unable to build on their unexpected lifeline.

After the break Spurs came out strongly and looked to build on their three goals with Berbatov looking particulary menacing in the opening exchanges. Firstly the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man volleyed straight at Jaaskelainen and then went close by nodding a Jermaine Jenas free kick over the Bolton crossbar.

On 58 minutes defender Abdoulaye Meite showed why he has been such a threat in goalscoring areas in recent weeks as his header went just wide of the Spurs goal. The Ivory Coast international had hit his first goal in Bolton colours against Arsenal two weeks ago and was looking to keep that run going.

Nicolas Anelka and substitute Ricardo Vaz-Te also had efforts on target but neither could stick the ball past Spurs keeper Robinson. In the case of Vaz-Te he steered the ball over the crossbar after Meite's header looked goalbound

Steed Malbranque was denied at the other end as Spurs looked to kill the game off but the icing on the cake came in the final minute when speedy winger Aaron Lennon finished from close range.

Bolton now have two local derbies over the next few weeks. A home fixture against Blackburn Rovers next week will be followed by a trip to Old Trafford to take on league leaders Manchester United.

Bolton Wanderers: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Faye (Andranik Teimourian), Abdoulaye Meite, Ricardo Gardner (Henrik Pedersen), Kevin Nolan (Ricardo Vaz-Te), Ivan Campo, Gary Speed, Stelios Giannakopoulos, Nicolas Anelka, El-Hadji Diouf

Subs Not Used: Idan Tal, Ian Walker (GK)

Spurs: Paul Robinson, Pascal Chimbonda, Michael Dawson, Ricardo Rocha, Lee Young-Po, Aaron Lennon, Didier Zokora (Paul Stalteri), Jermaine Jenas, Teemu Tainio (Steed Malbranque), Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane

Subs Not Used: Mido, Jermain Defoe, Radek Cerny (GK)

Referee:

Graham Poll

Attendance:

35,747

Booked:

El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton)

Abdoulaye Meite (Bolton)

Ricardo Gardner (Bolton)

Ivan Campo (Bolton)

Sent Off

Robbie Keane (Spurs)

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