CHIEF Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock was at White Hart Lane to file these reports.

15:52: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2002.

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

SPURS V Wanderers

CHRIS Armstrong made a shock return to White Hart Lane - the stadium he left in the summer - when he was included among the substitutes for his first Premiership call since joining Wanderers on a short-term contract in August.

Sam Allardyce seemed to be using the incentive of an appearance against his former club to motivate the 31-year-old former Spurs favourite whose latter days in North London were blighted by injury problems.

The starting line-up saw Ricardo Gardner back in front line action, just over four weeks after undergoing knee surgery, having proved his fitness in a 45 minute reserve team runout in midweek.

The jinking Jamaican made up a three-handed attack with Youri Djorkaeff and Michael Ricketts, who returned to the first 11 against the club which had him on their wanted list in the summer.

There was no place for fit-again Paul Warhurst, Sam Allardyce preferring Gareth Farrelly on the left of his central midfield trio in alongside

Campo and Kevin Nolan, which meant Per Frandsen dropping to substitute.

Spurs, who won 2-1 at Blackburn last time out, included Stephen Carr for the first time this season in place of the injured Mauricio Taricco and Chris Perry returned with Milenko Acimovic dropping to the sub's bench.

SPURS: Keller; Carr, Perry, Richards, Bunjevcevic, Davies, Redknapp, Freund, Etherington; Keane, Sheringham. Subs: Hirschfeld, Doherty,

Poyet, Iversen, Acimovic.

WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Nolan, Campo, Farrelly; Djorkaeff, Ricketts, Gardner. Subs: Frandsen,

Okocha, Holdsworth, Armstrong, Poole.

Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset).

16:58: SPURS 0 WANDERERS 0

Half-time

WANDERERS showed great resolve in holding their own against Spurs in a lively first half at White Hart Lane.

It took some outstanding defensive work by Mike Whitlow and Simon Charlton in particular to keep Robbie Keane and Teddy Sheringham out of harm's way.

But Wanderers posed a few problems for the Spurs defence with Michael Ricketts, recalled to the front line after being dropped to the subs' bench at Middlesbrough, prodding an awkward chance narrowly wide after a neatly clipped pass from Ricardo Gardner.

18:02: SPURS 3, WANDERERS 1

WANDERERS bowed to the meanace of Republic of Ireland goal star Robbie Keane in a hard-fought Premiership clash at White Hart Lane.

Keane, £7 million deadline day buy from Leeds, scored in the 58th and 74th minutes before Simon Davies finally secured the points with Spurs' third a minute from time.

But Glenn Hoddle's side had to work hard for their victory with Youri Djorkaeff putting Wanderers level with his third goal of the season on 63 minutes and the home fans having spells of frustration and fear.

Keane was a threat from start to finish but Wanderers defended stoutly and intelligently and when they were breached at the back, Jussi Jaaskelainen came to the rescue with excellent saves from Stephen Carr and Teddy Sheringham.

But there was no stopping Keane, who pounced on a Davies lay-off for his first and darted in at the near-post on a Gus Poyet pass for his second.

SPURS: Keller; Carr, Perry, Richards, Bunjevcevic, Davies, Redknapp, Freund, Etherington; Keane, Sheringham. Subs: Poyet for Etherington 70 mins. Not used; Hirschfeld, Doherty, Iversen, Acimovic.

WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen; Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton; Nolan, Campo, Farrelly; Djorkaeff, Ricketts, Gardner. Subs: Okocha for Djorkaeff 74 mins, Holdsworth for Campo 76 mins. Not used: Frandsen, Armstrong, Poole.

Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset).

Attendance: 35,909.