A superb strike from Johnnie Jackson sealed victory for Spurs after they had to withstand a fine Charlton comeback. Simon Davies pounced after a poor back-header from Paul Konchesky and Jermain Defoe headed in, after Dean Kiely saved his first effort, to put Spurs 2-0 up.

Ledley King fired in a third soon after the break but Graham Stuart pulled one back to give the Addicks hope.

Chris Perry headed in to set up a tense finale, but Jackson settled the visitors' nerves with a fierce drive.

Tottenham's back line had been breached seven times in the previous two games, including the FA Cup capitulation to Man City.

And David Pleat made two changes as a result, recalling Mauricio Taricco and Gary Doherty to face a Charlton attack of Shaun Bartlett and Carlton Cole.

Paul Konchesky almost caught Kasey Keller off guard in the first minute but his chip was just too high with the Spurs goalkeeper scrambling back.

Defoe had his first sight of goal when he burst through and got a shot in which Kiely diverted away for a corner.

And it was not long before Davies pounced to finish with aplomb inside the near post after Konchesky's error against the club he played on loan for earlier in the season.

With both sides looking to attack and both defences looking wobbly Shaun Bartlett burst into the area.

His attempt to square it to Carlton Cole was easily snaffled up by Keller, when Bartlett would have been better off shooting himself.

Claus Jensen powered in a shot straight at Keller soon after but Spurs always looked likelier to add to their tally when they got anywhere near the Charlton box.

Robbie Keane just failed to get over a superb cross from Jackson, although it took a fine save from Keller to tip a Graham Stuart volley onto the post.

Spurs went straight back to the other end and Defoe made it 2-0 when a Kiely save from his initial effort bounced off the striker's head and into the net.

Charlton finished the half strongly and a Hermann Hreidarsson shot hit the bar before Stuart had a goal disallowed for offside when he stabbed in after Bartlett's initial effort rebounded to him.

The second half started with a bang as King lashed in from the edge of the area with a first-time shot after he was set up by Robbie Keane.

The Addicks looked dead and buried but Stuart gave them a lifeline when he drove in through a crowd of players after a corner was knocked down to him.

Charlton went close again when Fish headed over from Claus Jensen's right wing corner.

As the home side piled on the pressure, Euell should have made it 3-2 but he could not get any power on his header after fine work from Paolo di Canio.

A goal was not long in coming, however, and Perry headed in against his former club from a Jensen cross to set up a nail-biting finale.

Just when Spurs were dreading the prospect of another stunning comeback, Jackson settled the issue with a fantastic drive.

There was still time for Kiely to make a fine save from Gus Poyet and Gary Doherty to almost put the ball into his own net.