Two goals in the dying minutes of an extraordinary second half gave Bolton their sixth successive victory as Martin Jol's Spurs self destructed.

Tal Ben Haim and Kevin Davies struck the goals to inflict more misery on a Tottenham side reduced to 10 men midway through the second period when Fredi Kanoute was given his marching orders for two bookable offences.

In many respects, Kanoute stole El-Hadji Diouf's thunder as the Bolton striker for once was not the guilty party on what was another controversial Barclays Premiership night.

Diouf was in the spotlight just eight days ago when he blatantly dived to win a spot-kick he eventually converted to give Bolton a contentious 1-0 victory at Blackburn.

The luck that fell the way of Sam Allardyce's side on that occasion seemed to follow them to the Reebok Stadium when they were again awarded another debatable penalty.

After a sterile first half, the second period exploded into life just two minutes in when referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot for what appeared to be an Erik Edman handball as he came under challenge from Davies.

The decision sparked furious protests from the majority of the Spurs side who proceeded to surround the Wirral official for a full minute as they voiced their anger, but it was all in vain.

After the furore had subsided, up stepped a composed Diouf to send Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson the wrong way from the spot for his fourth goal from his last five starts.

However, Spurs' ire grew soon after when Dean waved away their own handball appeals following a Kanoute free-kick that struck a Bolton player on the edge of the wall.

But further Spurs' protests only incensed Dean who angrily flashed yellow cards at both captain Ledley King and Kanoute.

Spurs appeared to be appeased when England international Jermain Defoe, surprisingly on the bench at the start, scored within two minutes of his arrival in the 65th minute.

But two minutes later Kanoute was given a second yellow card, and subsequent red for a challenge on Anthony Barness, kicking over a crate of drinks on his way to the tunnel such was his disgust.

His dismissal ultimately led to Spurs' downfall as they then capitulated in the closing stages, with Ben Haim first heading home a Stelios Giannakopoulos corner for 2-1 in the 86th minute.

With Tottenham going in search of the equaliser, they were brilliantly caught on the counter two minutes later, with Diouf playing a superb, curling pass into Davies to rifle a first-time shot from 10 yards beyond Robinson.

It was all in total contrast to the first period, minutes before which Bolton unveiled new signing Vincent Candela to the Wanderers fans.

He will have enjoyed what he witnessed in that first period given the predominantly defensive-minded nature of football in Italy.

Signed on loan until the end of the season after nine years with Roma, Candela watched a dour struggle between two teams who still have European aspirations.

Jol went on a signing spree during last month's transfer window, bringing in seven new faces in an attempt to lift his side into the top six at least, but that is now fading on the back of one win from their last six games.

But only two of those players - Egypt international striker Mido and Czech goalkeeper Radek Cerny - were involved, and both were on the bench as Jol made just one change to a team held to a 1-1 FA Cup fourth-round draw at West Brom on Saturday.

Spurs looked a team whose confidence had been rocked coming into the game on the back of their poor record.

They at least had the first three opportunities of the game, all falling to Kanoute, albeit his finishing growing ever wayward as each chance passed him by.

The first came inside the opening five minutes, with Kanoute working himself an opening just outside the area and unleashing a firm drive that was a yard wide of goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's right-hand post.

Seven minutes later and the rangy Kanoute was on the end of an inswinging corner from Michael Carrick, beating Jaaskelainen to his attempted punched clearance, only to steer his glancing header over the bar.

The Mali international then completed his hat-trick of early chances in the 19th minute, but after controlling a Simon Davies pass from the right wing with a neat chest trap, he comfortably cleared the bar with an edge-of-the-area drive.

Bolton eventually came into the game with chances for Davies and Giannakopoulos, but after that and as they trudged off for the break, nobody could have foreseen what was to unfold when the teams re-emerged.

Teams:

Bolton Jaaskelainen, Barness (Fadiga 77), N'Gotty, Ben Haim, Gardner, Nolan, Campo, Speed, Diouf, Davies (Pedersen 90), Giannakopoulos (Hierro 88).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Jaidi.

Goals: Diouf 49 pen, Ben Haim 86, Davies 87.

Tottenham Robinson, Kelly, King, Gardner, Edman (Defoe 63), Davies, Carrick, Brown, Atouba, Keane, Kanoute.

Subs Not Used: Bunjevcevic, Marney, Cerny, Mido.

Sent Off: Kanoute (68).

Booked: King, Kanoute.

Goals: Defoe 66.

Att: 24,780

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).