Tottenham finally exorcised the ghost of 1987 as Gustavo Poyet continued his love affair with the FA Cup to help Glenn Hoddle's side set up a home fourth-round meeting with Bolton.

Coventry had pulled off one of the biggest shocks of all time when they triumphed over Spurs in the 1987 final - Hoddle's last match for the North London club before he moved to Monaco.

The home side paraded skipper Brian Kilcline and the rest of the 1987 side to the 20,000 crowd before the kick off but there was never any suggestion they could repeat that triumph.

Tottenham had half a dozen players on the injury list plus the suspended Teddy Sheringham but they still controlled proceedings for lengthy periods and bossed all departments.

They will also fancy their chances of disposing of Bolton after hammering them 6-0 in a Worthington Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane earlier this season.

Poyet had scored six times in the competition, including two in the semi-final triumph over Newcastle, in helping Chelsea win the FA Cup in 2000.

And the Uruguayan again showed his liking for football's most famous domestic cup competition as he scored the opening goal at Highfield Road.

Les Ferdinand then made sure of victory for Tottenham early in the second half as they won in a canter.

Coventry were alongside Spurs in the Premiership last season but there was a glaring gulf in class from almost the first whistle.

Spurs were quickly into their stride and the impressive Simon Davies sent a header straight at Coventry goalkeeper Magnus Hedman when well placed from a Sergei Rebrov cross.

David Thompson, who was the Sky Blues most effective player, was only just too high with a rising 20-yard drive which contained plenty of power.

But Tottenham were starting to turn the screw and it came as no surprise when they went ahead after 23 minutes through Poyet.

Darren Anderton sent the ball out to Davies on the right flank and he had time to steady himself before sending over an inviting cross which Poyet headed past the exposed Hedman.

It repaid back another slice of the £2million that Hoddle had paid to Chelsea for his services last summer.

Tottenham came close to doubling their lead soon afterwards when Ferdinand, who passed a late fitness test on an ankle injury, curled a shot inches wide with Hedman unsighted.

Coventry, who gave a full debut to midfielder Robert Betts, were now only threatening spasmodically and, when Julian Joachim ran onto a pass from Thompson, he sent his low shot straight at Neil Sullivan.

Sky Blues defender Richard Shaw became the first player to be yellow carded by referee Neale Barry for a challenge on Rebrov.

Tottenham were looking increasingly menacing and Ledley King found himself in a good position inside the Coventry penalty area but he appeared caught in two minds and in the end Tomas Antonelius was able to clear easily.

Ferdinand was only just too high with a loping header from yet another dangerous Davies cross before Tim Sherwood was booked in first-half injury time for a tackle on Joachim.

Tottenham gave themselves breathing space after just six minutes of the second half when the alert Ferdinand poached his 13th goal of the campaign.

A low right-wing cross from Anderton was diverted against the post by City defender Gary Breen and Ferdinand reacted the quickest to bury the rebound.

To add to Breen's misery he was yellow carded for holding back Poyet in the build-up to the goal.

That took the sting out of any comeback Coventry had been hoping to stage although Joachim was only just too high with a shot on the turn.

Hedman blocked a close-range header from Hedman and then Sherwood was guilty of a glaring miss when he ballooned the ball over the crossbar from six yards out following a low Anderton centre.

Teams:

Coventry: Hedman, Edworthy, Shaw, Breen, Konjic, Antonelius (Martinez 72), Thompson, Carsley (Quinn 69), Betts, Joachim, Bothroyd (Delorge 80).

Subs Not Used: Hydlgaard, Fowler.

Booked: Shaw, Konjic, Breen.

Tottenham: Sullivan, King, Richards, Perry, Davies, Taricco, Sherwood, Poyet, Anderton (Leonhardsen 80), Ferdinand (Iversen 73), Rebrov.

Subs Not Used: Keller, Etherington, Gardner.

Booked: Sherwood.

Goals: Poyet 23, Ferdinand 52.

Att: 20,758

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).