In-form Darren Anderton scored one goal and made the other as Tottenham returned to winning ways in the Barclaycard Premiership and heaped further misery on rock-bottom Leicester.

The Tottenham midfield ace, who will surely be named tonight in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad, hooked home from close range after 35 minutes following Steffen Iversen's nod down.

Anderton then supplied the cross for Simon Davies to slot home on the hour and give Spurs their first win in five league games.

Leicester threw themselves a lifeline with 11 minutes remaining when Callum Davidson tapped a short free-kick to Stefan Oakes, who rifled the ball home from 25 yards.

Davidson was then denied by a fine point-blank save by Neil Sullivan after 86 minutes, and Leicester's late fightback proved to be in vain - if only they had shown that character from the start.

The other good news for Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle was that leading scorer Les Ferdinand returned after a four-match absence with a neck injury - and avoided a fifth yellow card which would have ruled him out of the Worthington Cup Final on February 24.

But it was almost a different story for the big striker as he was at the heart of an 80th-minute bust-up involving several players.

Referee Andy D'Urso spared him the agony of a yellow card, but did book Andy Impey who appeared to strike Mauricio Taricco off the ball.

Ferdinand was immediately substituted by Hoddle for his own safety, and replaced by Sergei Rebrov.

But while it ended all smiles for Spurs around White Hart Lane, the future looks Nationwide for Dave Bassett's men, who have now gone 11 games in the Premiership without a win

From the first whistle, the Tottenham fans reminded their Leicester counterparts of the Worthington Cup Final three years ago, when the Londoners triumphed 1-0 at Wembley despite being reduced to 10 men.

There was also the customary hostile reception for Robbie Savage, who was involved in the incident which resulted in Justin Edinburgh being dismissed that afternoon.

At least the banter provided them with a diversion from the action, as it was a scrappy opening.

The game suddenly produced a chance at either end in the 20th minute.

First, Ferdinand hit a low drive from 20 yards which flashed just past the right-hand post, then Davidson went closer as his fierce effort from the same distance forced Neil Sullivan to push it round the post for a corner.

Former Spurs goalkeeper Ian Walker was given a warm welcome on his return to London, but was left feeling out in the cold when man-of-the-moment Darren Anderton beat him with a neat finish.

Taricco's cross into the box was nodded back by Ferdinand, then nodded down by Iversen, and Anderton pounced from seven yards to hook home his sixth goal of the season, and second in the space of five days. It was a nice way to mark his 250th Premiership appearance for the club.

Iversen should have doubled the lead after 38 minutes, but slotted an angled shot beyond the far post.

Spurs stepped up a gear and doubled their lead on the hour - cutting through the Leicester defence with embarrassing ease.

This time Anderton was the provider as he burst into the box down the right and delivered a low cross for Davies to guide beyond Walker.

It was the young Welshman's seventh goal for the club and his fourth in the Premiership.

Iversen nearly scored an exquisite third goal after 73 minutes as he raced one-on-one with Walker. He beat the goalkeeper with a lob, only for the ball to rebound off the crossbar and then bounce over the head of Ferdinand as he followed up.

The Spurs fans began the inevitable chants of "going down" and with other results going against Dave Bassett's men, it is looking like mission impossible for them to retain their Premiership status.

Teams:

Tottenham: Sullivan, Thatcher (Thelwell 65), King, Richards, Taricco, Anderton, Sherwood, Etherington, Davies, Ferdinand (Rebrov 83), Iversen.

Subs Not Used: Keller, Sheringham, Leonhardsen.

Goals: Anderton 37, Davies 61.

Leicester: Walker, Sinclair, Davidson, Elliott, Laursen, Savage, Oakes, Stewart, Impey, Scowcroft, Piper.

Subs Not Used: Royce, Marshall, Heath, Stevenson, Reeves.

Booked: Impey.

Goals: Oakes 79.

Att: 35,973

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).