Who in their wildest dreams in the depths of despair twelve months ago would have believed that Tottenham would be on the verge of glory days less than a year later with virtually the same squad of notorious under achievers? Who would have thought that the arch exponent of the offside trap at Highbury would become a roundhead turned cavalier, leading a Spurs side that had not shown such flair and panache for many a long season? And who would have thought that one Darren Anderton, yes, he of the much touted soubriquet of 'Sicknote' would be one of many stars in this replay? And who would have thought that one of the most improved players in this team would be no less a personage than one Justin Edinburgh, formerly regarded as a dustbin in a side of hapless players incapable of stringing passes together?

Already in one Cup Final, Tottenham last night set out their stall as they marched into the Sixth Round with growing confidence and belief in their destiny that they have another visit to Wembley pencilled in for mid-May. It is true that a minimum of one hundred and eighty minutes remain to be played out before such dreams become a reality but on this form who is to say that Tottenham will not make it?

Leeds began the match in great hope as Tottenham took a while to settle down. The Yorkshire side knocked the ball about in midfield in growing confidence but could not find a way round the back four, no matter where they probed. The first half resembled a game of chess in some respects where both sides teased the opposition's defences but were unable to find a chink in their iron curtain.

However, the clash of heads that affected Les Ferdinand and David Wetherall after only twenty minutes and led to a five minute hold-up of play probably had as much as anything to the subdued atmosphere of the first half. Ferdinand seemed to be out for the count as he was stretchered off but Wetherall at first tried to insist on playing on until it quickly became apparent that he was suffering from double vision and the referee rightly insisted he be taken off for his own good. This meant that Leeds had to re-shuffle their defence with the attendant problems that caused. Spurs were more fortunate in that it was merely a case of replacing one striker with another.

It came as no surprise to me that there was no score at half-time. Indeed, I could not see where a goal was going to come from given that both defences were on top of the opposing strike forces. Hasselbaink was obviously out of form whilst Armstrong still suffers from a lack of confidence after a long lay-off through injury. It was obvious that a breakthrough would have to be something special.

Tottenham emerged for the start of the second half determined to ensure that they would get on top of Leeds. They quickly set their stall out. Ten minutes after half-time, Ginola set off on a long dribble around the periphery of the Leeds' penalty area. He left four players in his wake as he shimmied from side to side. When he raced into their penalty area, the angle looked so acute most seemed to think Ginola would chip the ball to someone better placed but Ginola tried a chip that Martyn just about managed to finger away just as the Spurs bench were about to applaud a brilliant goal by the extrovert Frenchman.

But Spurs did not have long to wait for that so very vital breakthrough. In the 59th minute, Spurs were awarded a free-kick. They were so far away from Leeds' penalty area there did not seem to be any danger. Nor did there seem to be any as Ginola pushed the ball to Anderton, who was some 35 yards out. He'd already tried a couple of long range shots which had sailed harmlessly wide. But this time, Anderton cracked the ball with powerful venom and the ball flew into the goal so hard and true that Martyn could never have risked trying to stop it without losing a couple of fingers. Anderton was swamped beneath a mass of bodies as he was pummelled with congratulations on his first goal from open play for more than two years.

Ginola then saw yet another shot hit the woodwork before he finally scored in the 68th minute. Iversen's right wing cross was only partially cleared by Woodgate. The ball ran to Ginola who, without checking his momentum, struck the ball, again with venom, and Martyn was beaten before the ball had started its goalward flight. Ginola disappeared beneath a rugby scrum of delighted Spurs players. The faces of the Leeds players told us all we needed to know : they knew they were out of the Cup.

Spurs are now unbeaten in fourteen games and have only conceded one goal in the last six matches. Now, if they can only convert those draws into wins we might see them climb the table .......

Sky showed a number of interested onlookers. John Hendrie was there to see who would be playing Barnsley in the next round. Martin O'Neill was there to see just what Leicester face in the League Cup Final at Wembley.

And so an enthralling evening ended with distant anthems started to swirl around the ground for the first time for many years. The sound of silverware clinking can be heard in the distance. Yes, Tottenham are back!

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