Defoe on hand to spare Spurs' blushes with injury-time goal

TOTTENHAM endured Groundhog Day as they went from 3-1 up to 4-3 down against 10-man Leicester at White Hart Lane yesterday before Jermain Defoe rescued a point with two minutes to go.

Tottenham 4 Leicester 4

David Pleat's men suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in FA Cup history earlier this month when they led 3-0 at home against 10-man Manchester City at half-time, only to lose 4-3.

Spurs were left embarrassed again as their shambolic defending allowed Leicester to come from behind with a man down and almost steal the points.

Leicester boss Micky Adams launched a blistering attack on Tottenham defender Mauricio Taricco, accusing him of over-reacting to get James Scowcroft sent off towards the end of game.

Scowcroft saw red following his mistimed tackle on Taricco after 68 minutes but Leicester boss Adams was furious with the Argentinian.

"I have looked at the sending-off and I think it warranted a booking," said Adams. "I think referees as fans and players do watch the television and they should know the players, and they should know that a little Argentinian rolling around in agony is going to get up any minute and start playing the game again.

"There has a been a history of that player at this football club since he's been here and certainly, if he was my player, I would let him know that that is not the way to conduct yourself.

"Anybody who defends that is wrong, because he got my player sent off. Some might call that being professional, but not me. The challenge wasn't intentional, James Scowcroft is not that kind of player. He did catch him, I am not denying that, but he over-reacted."

Tottenham caretaker boss David Pleat refused to get drawn into a war of words with Adams, but defended Taricco by insisting the defender was not a cheat.

"I won't comment on any Leicester players and I think it is very unwise to do so," said Pleat. "I don't believe he is a cheat. I have seen his calf and I have seen a lump the size of an egg on his head, and I think it was a stupid thing to do by the Leicester player."

In a game reminiscent of Spurs' amazing exit from the FA Cup when they had led Manchester City 3-0 at half-time only to lose 4-3, Jermain Defoe spared his team from total humiliation as he struck a dramatic equaliser two minutes before the end.

Michael Brown saw his sixth-minute free-kick helped into the next by former Spurs goalkeeper Ian Walker, before Gary Doherty's own goal levelled it two minutes later. Defoe struck after 13 minutes to put Spurs 2-1 ahead and Robbie Keane's 50th Premiership goal gave Spurs a two-goal cushion after 26 minutes.

Les Ferdinand pulled one back against his former club after 51 minutes before Scowcroft saw red. Ben Thatcher also grabbed a goal against his old team to pull level two minutes later, and Marcus Bent came off the bench to give Leicester the lead after 77 minutes before Defoe rescued a point.

TOTTENHAM: Keller, Carr, Taricco, Doherty, Richards, Brown (Kanoute 78), King, Davies, Jackson (Anderton 61), Keane, Defoe.

LEICESTER: Walker, Taggart (Davidson 49), Thatcher, Dabizas, Nalis, Guppy, Scimeca, Freund, Ferdinand (Bent 78), Scowcroft, Dickov (Sinclair 86).

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).