Simon Davies prevented Glenn Hoddle's welcome-home party turning into another wake following Sunday's FA Cup heartache against Arsenal with a late winner that finally saw off bottom-of-the-table Bradford.

But Spurs new manager was given further proof, if indeed he needed it, that there is major repair-work ahead if he is to restore the old White Hart Lane cockerel to the proud perch it occupied in his hey-day as a midfield icon.

Wales midfielder Davies, who played no part in the semi-final defeat by the Gunners, cracked a low-drive - just after Spurs had pushed defender Gary Doherty up front to replace the stretchered-off Steffen Iversen.

It was Iversen, injured in an aerial collision with Andy Myers, who had sparked a silent night and a well below-capacity home crowd with a 25th-minute half-volley through goalkeeper Gary Walsh's legs to give Spurs a barely-deserved lead.

But Hoddle and his men wasted other chances to parcel up the points and Scotsman Eoin Jess raised familiar groans in the black and white half of north London with a well-taken equaliser from a route-one move three minutes before half-time.

And just when Bradford were discovering hope of only their fourth win of a traumatic season, former Luton midfielder Davies - who scored twice in the fifth round of the Cup on his full debut last month - supplied the killing finish to the latest of Sergei Rebrov's tireless raids to pinch a much-needed Spurs win with his first-ever Premiership goal.

But it was all far from impressive and Hoddle will surely have been the first to notice the lack of real quality in a side that, admittedly, lacked skipper Sol Campbell and at least six other first-team regulars.

Relegation-doomed Bradford's brittle defence showed early signs of offering Hoddle an easy White Hart Lane baptism in his second coming.

Ambling Dutch giant Rob Molenaar generously offered Rebrov a shooting chance in only the seventh minute with an appalling slack clearance, but the little striker's shot was beaten out by Walsh.

Seemingly undeterred, Molenaar then dragged Iversen off the ball - and was booked - when the Norwegian looked set to break through onto Rebrov's clever flick 14 minutes later and must have been grateful to see the free-kick wasted.

So was another great piece of work by Rebrov soon afterwards when neither Iversen nor Doherty could make contact with a brilliant cross after the Ukrainian stretched to keep the ball in play on the right.

And although Benito Carbone was close for Bradford with a curling free-kick from 25 yards which just missed the far post, Spurs' growing pressure brought the first goal in the 25th minute.

Wayne Jacobs gave the ball away, presenting Rebrov with the chance to supply another fine cross from the right and this time the unmarked Iversen half-volleyed it cleanly between Walsh's legs from 10 yards out.

Even though a dashing solo run by Blake threatened to pull Bradford back into the picture when he took on one man too many, Walsh soon had to make a brave save at feet to deny Stephen Clemence's attempt to convert Iversen's through ball.

Walsh saved well again on 37 minutes when Davies, well picked out by Luke Young's splendid crossfield ball, drove a good effort from 18 yards. Jacobs helped his keeper block the follow-up attempt by the young Welsh midfielder.

But Spurs seldom carried enough quality or confidence to wrap the game up and Bradford forced a stunning equaliser with a route-one strike in the 42nd minute.

Walsh's mammoth clearance kick was chested down by Ashley Ward for Jess to ram in an impressive strike with no Tottenham defenders in sight.

It would not have lifted their morale either to discover that it was only the eighth Bradford away goal all season.

The Bantams thought they made it nine when Blake tucked the ball into anempty net after Ward's shot came back off a post eight minutes after the break, but a linesman's offside flag saved Spurs.

And their were red faces all round in the home defence when Andy Myers was allowed room for a free header from Carbone's free-kick only to put it wide.

So the relief was obvious when with 14 minutes left - at just about the same stage Arsenal scored their long-overdue winner at Old Trafford on Sunday - Davies struck with a crashing low drive following up Rebrov's half-cleared probe on the right.

Teams:

Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Perry, Doherty, Young, Leonhardsen (Korsten 83), Clemence, Davies, Sherwood, Rebrov, Iversen (Thelwell 74).

Subs Not Used: Walker, Gardner, Etherington.

Booked: Doherty.

Goals: Iversen 26, Davies 76.

Bradford: Walsh, Myers, Molenaar, Halle, Jacobs, McCall, Whalley, Blake, Carbone, Ward, Jess.

Subs Not Used: Davison, Grant, Kerr, McKinlay, Emanuel.

Booked: Molenaar.

Goals: Jess 44.

Att: 28,306

Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).