Spurs show new defiance after Davies' early strike

Charlton Athletic 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Resolve and defiance are not the most obvious compliments that come in Tottenham's direction but for the second match in succession at The Valley last night they took an early lead and held it, not always with absolute confidence but showing effective tenacity.

Charlton gave them a grindingly hard battle and emphasised that while Spurs are still in need of a stronger squad they at least are forming the spirit equal to that of brave Charlton.

Spurs had arrived full of satisfaction from a defensively unyielding performance against Aston Villa, which Glenn Hoddle had rightly said was something that in all probability they would not have failed achieved last season, and Charlton defied Bolton's pressure for a 2-1 win.

Both clubs need reinforcements. Spurs have been encouraged into thinking that their hopes of signing Fernando Morientes are improved by reports that the player has had a big row with his club, Real Madrid. However last night, Hoddle said: "Time seems to be running out on this. These things are all so much more complicated than they used to be, but we have not give up hope altogether."

He admitted that the fans wanted to see a new striker, but he was non-committal when questioned on reports that he would be holding talks today with Leeds' unsettled striker Robbie Keane, who has expressed his irritation with life on the bench at Elland Road under their new manager. All Hoddle would say was: "That is Terry Venables' business."

Yesterday Hoddle elected to leave Les Ferdinand on the bench and link Teddy Sheringham with Gary Doherty, but the link that counted after only eight minutes was between Sheringham and the ever improving Simon Davies. Charlton had already beaten out one forceful Spurs attack when Sheringham slipped a short pass inside to Davies, who slammed a shot in from a close distance but awkward angle.

While Charlton absorbed the attacks fairly well, when it came to counter-attacking they lost possession alarmingly, though much the same could be said of Spurs for whom even Jamie Redknapp, so effective against Villa, found it difficult to gain midfield control.

Under the surveillance of the England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, Redknapp increased his influence and, but for a splendid drive from Chris Powell that Kasey Keller importantly touched round the post, Spurs maintained what momentum there was in a fragmented game. When Ferdinand came on Spurs looked all the stronger, while Charlton had industry but little ingenuity.

Much of what Spurs did was simply straightforward and not especially pretty. But to match a Charlton side of fewer resources but so much endeavour was a pointer. Alan Curbishley, unhappy at "not having enough in our locker", complimented Spurs on "working as had as any side I've seen". It was, as Hoddle said, "all a matter of balance and resolve."

Charlton Athletic: Kiely 6; Young 6, Rufus 5, Fortune 5 (Brown 6, 70), Powell 6; Kishishev 6 (Robinson 5, 65), Jensen 5, Bart-Williams 5, Konchesky 6; Johansson 5 (Svensson 5, 55), Euell 6. Substitutes not used: Rachubka (gk), Robinson, Lisbie.

Tottenham Hotspur: Keller 6; Taricco 6, Gardner 7, Richards 6, Ziege 6; Davies 6, Redknapp 7, Bunjevcevic 6, Etherington 6; Sheringham 6, Doherty 5 (Ferdinand, 77). Substitutes not used: Hirschfeld (gk), Rebrov, Thatcher, Acimovic.

Referee: A Wiley (Burntwood).