Star performance from Keane sees Spurs through
Nottingham Forest 0 Tottenham 3
A strike from Irish international Robbie Keane tonight helped Tottenham secure a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter-finals tie against Newcastle.
Martin Jol played the rotation game tonight, with only four players – goalkeeper Paul Robinson, Simon Davies, Michael Brown and Stephen Kelly – started for the second successive match.
But, just as his side had dug in to overcome Fulham at the weekend, they showed similar resolve tonight in this fifth round replay.
Forest may be struggling in the Championship, but they went into the game on the back of a six-match unbeaten.
Expectation lay heavy in the cold night air at the home of the two-time European Cup winners.
But Spurs just had too much nous and booked their place in the last eight and a ticket to St James’s Park after a superb late show.
Fredi Kanoute squandered a good chance in the 17th minute after a defence-splitting pass from Thimothee Atouba.
The striker seemed to be put off by on-rushing goalkeeper Paul Gerrard and screwed his effort wide of the target.
Forest hit back and Paul Evans delivered an inswinging corner that Noe Pamarot deflected to safety more by good luck than good judgement.
The home side stepped up the pace and Gregor Robertson fired high and wide after a flick on from Johnson following a cross from John Curtis.
Forest goalkeeper Gerrard came to the rescue in the 28th minute getting a big hand to Keane’s effort from close range to parry the ball to safety.
It was good move by Spurs with Kanoute cleverly chesting a cross from Reto Ziegler into the Irishman’s path.
They were playing some neat football and Pedro Mendes moved forward menacingly five minutes later but his effort failed to match his ambition and finished close to the corner flag.
Spurs carved out another good opening in the 39th minute when Kanoute played the ball back into the penalty area to set the alarm bells ringing.
Luckily for Forest, Wes Morgan was alert to the danger and willingly conceded a corner.
Then Ziegler tried his luck from the edge of the area only to see his effort fizz past the post.
Forest were again forced on the back foot a minute before the break and Brown peeled away from his marker but sent a header wide following a corner from Ziegler.
Evans almost put Forest ahead on the stroke of half time only for Robinson to react superbly and block his effort after a cross from Curtis.
Johnson was left frustrated in the 51st minute after Gareth Taylor released him only to be pulled up for offside.
That was as good as it got for the home side.
Tottenham broke forward in the 54th minute with Kanoute finding Kelly down the right. However the move broke down when he delivered a poor cross into the arms of Gerrard.
There was a moment of danger for Forest in the 57th minute when veteran defender Andy Melville brought down Keane as he raced forward.
Kanoute rattled in a free-kick but Forest eventually managed to scramble the ball away.
However there was little respite with Tottenham taking the lead on the hour.
Forest were caught ball-watching with Pamarot flicking in a header at the near post following a corner from Ziegler.
It was the Frenchman’s second goal for the club after moving from Nice and just the boost Tottenham want against a side struggling to maintain their Championship status.
Megson changed things around in the 64th minute with John Thompson replacing the tiring Evans.
Forest almost conceded a second goal in the 70th minute but Gerrard made a good block from the industrious Ziegler.
Spurs extended their lead two minutes later with a clinical finish from Keane after Brown had flicked on Ziegler’s corner.
Spurs looked comfortable after that second goal from Keane and the Republic of Ireland striker almost got a second only for Gerrard to block his effort in the 87th minute.
James Perch should have grabbed a consolation for Forest a minute later but thumped a shot wide from a good position.
Substitute Mido added a third in stoppage time when he knocked in the rebound after Brown’s effort came back off the bar.
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