Robbie Keane returned to the starting XI and helped Tottenham cruise into the fourth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Cardiff.

The Republic of Ireland international, in his first start since returning from a knee injury, had a cheeky hand in Aaron Lennon's opener by allowing the ball to run through to his team-mate while offside.

He then smashed in the second before Steed Malbranque added a third by half-time in the third-round replay at White Hart Lane.

Keane had replaced Jermain Defoe in the starting XI but the in-form England striker then came off the bench to add gloss to the scoreline with 10 minutes remaining.

Spurs will now face Southend in the fourth round, the Championship strugglers who they defeated in the Carling Cup quarter-final last month.

With five games in 16 days starting with the Premiership clash against Fulham on Saturday, the victory against the Bluebirds could hardly have gone better for Spurs boss Martin Jol as he gave players returning from injury and poor form a confidence-boosting run-out.

Anthony Gardner made his second start of the season after his knee troubles - centre-back Calum Davenport was not in the squad - while Didier Zokora and Benoit Assou-Ekotto also featured.

Keane, of course, also returned in emphatic style, skippering the side in Ledley King's absence with a bruised foot.

The Republic of Ireland striker was clattered by Kerrea Gilbert, the right-back on loan from Arsenal, in a scrappy opening which had the hallmarks of the goalless draw at Ninian Park.

But Spurs started building momentum in the 11th minute when Malbranque slipped a pass to Dimitar Berbatov, who fired just wide.

Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Alexander was forced into a save in the 24th minute after Malbranque had exchanged passes with Assou-Ekotto on the left, with the Championship side able to scramble clear as Keane rushed in for the rebound.

But Spurs were ahead in the 27th minute with a sweeping counter attack from a Cardiff corner.

Berbatov flicked the ball out to Lennon, who dashed down the right before laying the ball off to Zokora. The Ivory Coast midfielder played the ball through the visitors' defence and Keane, in a offside position, let it run through for Lennon to finish as Cardiff waited for a flag.

Berbatov was offside when he had the ball in the net a minute later - but the Bulgaria striker set up Spurs' second on the half-hour mark.

He chased a long ball down the right, tricked his way past Glenn Loovens and crossed for Keane to smash into the roof of the net, his sixth of the season.

Malbranque had tested Alexander with a deflected shot but extended the lead in the 42nd minute, collecting a pass from fellow Frenchman Assou-Ekotto and drilling into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Full-back Pascal Chimbonda, another Frenchman, had the chance for a fourth in the 50th minute but sliced his finish from Tom Huddlestone's free-kick to the back post.

The pace of the game predictably slowed in the second period, with Cardiff's boisterous travelling support given little to shout about other than a tame penalty appeal when Michael Chopra went over in the area.

There may be optimism following the takeover of the club earlier in the week but the post-Sam Hammam era needs a win to revive the club who started the season so promisingly.

Their winless streak, which now stands at 13 matches, has seen them drop from first in the Championship to eighth, although the hard work of Chopra and Steve Thompson in attack offered them hope.

Despite their lead, Spurs went in search for a fourth and brought on Defoe for Berbatov.

Defoe almost set up Keane only for Cardiff to clear, but the England striker bundled in a fourth with 10 minutes left after Hossam Ghaly's shot was fumbled by Alexander. It was his 13th of the season, giving Jol plenty of options in attack as they continue to challenge on four fronts this season, with the Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal next week.

Teams:

Tottenham Robinson, Chimbonda, Gardner, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto,Malbranque (Ghaly 65), Huddlestone, Zokora (Tainio 75), Lennon,Berbatov (Defoe 70), Keane.

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Young-Pyo Lee.

Goals: Lennon 27, Keane 30, Malbranque 41, Defoe 81.

Cardiff Alexander, Gilbert, Purse, Loovens, McNaughton,Flood (Cooper 56), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley,Chopra (Ferretti 75), Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Forde, Johnson, Campbell.

Booked: Thompson.

Att: 27,641

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).