Keane inspires Spurs to Cup rout

Robbie Keane, seen here in 2006, returned from injury to lead Tottenham into the FA Cup fourth round with an influential display in his side's 4-0 win against Cardiff.

Robbie Keane returned from injury to lead Tottenham into the FA Cup fourth round with an influential display in his side's 4-0 win against Cardiff.

Keane was making his first start for six weeks after recovering from a knee injury and the Republic of Ireland striker made up for lost time as he scored Tottenham's second goal in their third round replay victory at White Hart Lane.

Martin Jol's side have struggled in recent weeks but fit-again Keane, captain in Ledley King's absence, gave them a much-needed spark as his strike and goals from Aaron Lennon, Steed Malbranque and Jermain Defoe set up a home tie with Southend in the next round.

Tottenham had been forced to dig deep to escape with a goalless draw against their Championship opponents at Ninian Park earlier this month but they were always in complete control here and a first win in five matches was never in doubt.

Malbranque and Keane combined well in midfield to send Dimitar Berbatov through on goal, but the Bulgarian striker scuffed his shot wide of a post from the edge of the area.

Malbranque should have given Tottenham the lead after 24 minutes when Keane picked him out just 10 yards from goal, but the French midfielder's strike was too close to Cardiff keeper Neil Alexander, who saved well before the visitors cleared the danger.

Tottenham have been imperious in cup competitions this season, winning nine of their ten matches in the FA, League and UEFA Cups before this match, and the goal their dominance deserved arrived after 27 minutes.

Didier Zokora slid a pass through from midfield and the ball skimmed towards Keane, who cleverly dummied to Lennon, and the winger kept his composure to easily beat Alexander at the near post.

Cardiff had no answer to Tottenham's superior passing and movement and the visitors' defence was sliced open again in the 30th minute.

Berbatov made Glenn Loovens look leaden-footed as he twisted past the Cardiff centre-back on the right side of the penalty area before crossing to Keane, who lifted his shot into the empty net from close range.

Cardiff visibly wilted with that blow and Tottenham, scenting the chance to put the result beyond any doubt, went for the kill in the 42nd minute.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto played a pass in from the left to Malbranque, who was given time to turn by Cardiff's hesitant defence and he took full advantage with a low shot that flashed past Alexander from 25 yards.

After an inconsistent Premiership campaign, Tottenham's season will be defined by the knockout competitions and, with a League Cup semi-final against Arsenal to come and a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup secured, they harbour dreams of landing a cup treble.

Lacklustre Cardiff never threatened to endanger their FA Cup progress and England striker Defoe, on for Berbatov, completed the rout in the 81st minute as he tapped-in after Alexander had parried a long shot from Hossam Ghaly.