Tottenham and George Graham got off to a winning start but they had to come from behind to beat a spirited Ipswich side.

Two goals in two minutes for the home side turned the game around after Ipswich had taken an early lead through Mark Venus.

And on the whole it was a merited victory although Ipswich's passing style will have won plenty of admirers.

It was George Burley's side that made the brighter opening and young central defender Titus Bramble shot a couple of yards wide from long range after a surging run forward in the third minute.

Ipswich's new record signing Hermann Hreidarsson then headed wide from a corner, but on eight minutes the visitors did take the lead.

A foul on David Johnson led to an Ipswich free-kick 25 yards out and the shot from Mark Venus took a wicked deflection to leave Neil Sullivan helpless.

The goal sparked Tottenham to life but Steffen Iversen's shot from the edge of the box after a neat lay-off by Darren Anderton was comfortably saved by Richard Wright.

Sergei Rebrov then hit the bar with a beautiful effort with the outside of his right foot from the edge of the box.

Then two Spurs goals in as many minutes turned the game around on both occasions Stephen Carr was involved. Firstly he was brilliantly picked out by Iversen and when he was brought down by Wright, referee Alan Wiley had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Anderton duly blasted home the spot-kick and on the half hour mark Carr was left free again and having been picked out by Rebrov he beat Wright at his near post as the keeper expected a cross.

But Ipswich were still offering a threat and Marcus Stewart nearly caught out Sullivan with a long range effort that rebounded off the foot of the post.

Almost immediately after the break Oyvind Leonhardsen almost extended Tottenham's advantage but his effort from the edge of the are flew just wide.

Carr was booked for a late challenge on Jamie Clapham and Venus' free-kick posed problems for Sullivan. Ben Thatcher's long pass to Rebrov caught the Ipswich defence square on 56 minutes but the Ukrainian dragged his shot across the face of goal.

Sherwood was only a yard wide with another effort from outside the box on 63 minutes.

Darren Anderton then curled a free-kick against the post before Ipswich introduced Martijn Reuser in place of Scowcroft.

And Ipswich began to threaten again with Johnson beating Sol Campbell to a Stewart flick-on and shooting narrowly wide on two occasions and then heading a Gary Croft cross off target.

But they paid for not taking their chances and substitute Les Ferdinand was left completely unmarked at the far post with nine minutes remaining to make it 3-1.

Croft for Ipswich and then Rebrov both had strong efforts saved in injury time but the day and points belonged to Tottenham.