GORDON Sharrock reports from the Reebok

14:58: SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2002

FA BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

Wanderers V TOTTENHAM

GUDNI Bergsson showed impeccable timing, returning on schedule after a four-match absence with a knee injury to face his former club as Wanderers

went in search of the victory that could put their Premiership survival beyond doubt.

The Reebok skipper, still to decide whether this is to be his last campaign, limped out of the 3-1 home defeat against Derby County and was initially

feared to be out for the season with ligament damage but trained all week and passed a fitness test on Wednesday.

Anthony Barness dropped out and with Paul Warhurst and Ricardo Gardner injured, Per Frandsen and Nicky Southall returned in midfield.

Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle left out record signing Sergei Rebrov and recalled Stefen Iversen.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Whitlow, Bergsson, Charlton, Southall, Frandsen, Nolan, Djorkjaeff, Bobic, Wallace. Subs: Holdsworth, Ricketts, Espartero, Barness, Poole.

Tottenham: Keller, Taricco, Perry, Anderton, Sherwood, Sheringham, Poyet, Iversen, Thatcher, Davies, Gardner. Subs: Rebrov, Doherty, Clemence, Etherington, Sullivan.

Referee: Matt Messias (York).

15:53: WANDERERS 0, TOTTENHAM 1

Half-time

STEFEN Iversen stunned Wanderers and silenced the Reebok when he put Spurs in front after just eight minutes.

The Norwegian striker beat offside claims to race onto Gus Poyet's lobbed through ball and made easy work of rounding Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Per Frandsen forced Kasey Keller to make a fingertip save with a fierce long-range shot as Wanderers pressed for an equaliser. But it was a frustrating first half for Sam Allardyce who watched his side dominate possession, forcing a string of corners but failing to carve out a clear scoring opportunity.

It might have been worse if Spurs had taken their chances on the counter-attack with Gus Poyet having two headers saved by Jaaskelainen, Teddy Sheringham firing wide and Per Frandsen making a vital clearance in overtime to deny Simon Davies.

16:56: WANDERERS 1 TOTTENHAM 1.

DEAN Holdsworth came off the bench to rescue a point and nudge Wanderers closer to their survival target.

It was not the total revenge Sam Allardyce was looking for after suffering three defeats at White Hart Lane earlier in the season but it was a result that brought relief and sparked celebrations of at mission almost accomplished.

Wanderers had struggled to get back on terms after Stefen Iversen fired Spurs ahead on eight minutes and survived a number of defensive scares as Glenn Hoddle's men threatened on the counter-attack.

It might have been all over on 70 minutes had Sergei Rebrov converted a gilt-edged chance laid on by Gus Poyet but Holdsworth pounced seconds later, at close range, after Mike Whitlow headed on Youri Djorkaeff's lobbed pass.

Michael Ricketts had a "goal" disallowed for offside 10 minutes later and Djorkaeff hit the crossbar with a sweetly-struck free kick five minutes from time as Wanderers finished strongly.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, N'Gotty, Whitlow, Bergsson, Charlton, Southall, Frandsen, Nolan, Djorkjaeff, Bobic, Wallace. Subs: Holdsworth for Bobic 57 mins, Ricketts for Wallace 57 mins. Not used: Espartero, Barness, Poole.

Tottenham: Keller, Taricco, Perry, Anderton, Sherwood, Sheringham, Poyet, Iversen, Thatcher, Davies, Gardner. Subs: Rebrov for Iversen (h-t), Doherty for Rebrov 85 mins. Not used: Clemence, Etherington, Sullivan.

Referee: Matt Messias (York).

Attendance: 25,817.