SPURS went a long way towards erasing the disappointment of their Carling Cup final defeat with a convincing rout of a shellshocked Middlesbrough.

Robbie Keane's first goal since his return from Liverpool and a classy brace from Aaron Lennon were the high points of a lively encounter which also saw Roman Pavlyuchenko find the net.

The win took Spurs to 13th in the league with victory largely thanks to some woeful Middlesbrough defending - the Teesiders unable to recreate the form that saw them defeat Liverpool at the weekend.

It was the visitors that started the brighter with Stuart Downing testing Heurelho Gomes with a high ball into the box with barely a minute on the clock. But on this occasion the Brazilian collected with ease.

Downing tested the Spurs stopper again a with a low shot a moment later after Woodgate sloppily gave the ball away on the edge of the area, but the keeper did well to push it round the post.

Zokora went on the mazy run from the resulting corner only for Lennon to lash Jenas' curling right foot cross just a yard wide of the far post.

Spurs started to find their passing game and Keane put them in front after just eight minutes as he stabbed home from close range after Pavlyuchenko flicked on a Modric corner from the left.

Boro had a goal chalked off for offside soon after when Stuart Downing's pinpoint 30 yard pass found Tuncay just inside the area and he lashed his shot in against the roof of the net.

Then Pavlyuchenko doubled Spurs advantage after 13 minutes when Keane played Modric in behind the visitors' back four and the diminutive playmaker squared for the Russian to tap home from close range.

The Spurs faithful were in fine voice despite their Wembley disappointment as Wilson Palacios started to boss the game for the hosts with tackles and interceptions.

Tuncay was at the centre of the away team's chances and had a shot blocked by a flailing Michael Dawson when Jonathan Woodgate could only head Justin Hoyte's cross straight into the Turkey international's path.

Julio Arca tried his luck from 30 yards just before the half hour mark but his speculative shot flew harmlessly over Gomez's bar.

Soon after Emanuel Pogatetz was booked for scything down the flying Aaron Lennon but Luka Modric put the resulting free kick high into the Paxton Road end crowd.

Middlesbrough had a luck escape on 32 minutes when Brad Jones sloppily cleared straight to Roman Pavlyuchenko only for the Tottenham number nine to get hopelessly muscled off the ball.

Jones made amends a few moments later by reacting sharply to block Keane's angled chip after the Irishman was put through on goal by the superb Modric.

Keane, Modric and Lennon were at the heart of all the host's endevour with their slick passing drawing ironic cheers from the home fans.

The trio combined for Spurs' third after 39 minutes when Lennon was played into acres of space behind the visitors' defence and the winger converted neatly with a low finish past Brad Jones' near post.

Jeremie Aliadiere had a great chance just before the break but summed up a disappointing half for Boro by heading Gary O'Neal's right wing cross lamely past Gomez's far post from six yards.

Andrew Taylor replaced Robert Huth at the break as Gareth Southgate tried to rally his troops but he could find no answer to Lennon who was tormenting defenders all over the pitch.

Tottenham had a penalty claim five minutes later when Keane was bundled over in the box but Howard Webb waved the home side's protests away.

Both managers then rang the changes with Marlon King comming on for the ineffectual Jeremie Aliadiere and Darren Bent replacing goalscorer Roman Pavlyuchenko for Spurs.

Darren Bent then almost got on the end of a long clearance but Brad Jones rushed out to clear by a whisker.

The home fans soon got wish as Tom Huddlestone - whose name had been loudly chanted from the start - was given a runout in place of then industrious Jermaine Jenas.

Boro were growing in confidence and almost scored when a Tuncay cross looped over a stranded Gomez and against the post only for Woodgate to scramble away the rebound.

Julio Arca almost pulled one back for the Teesiders soon after when his 25 yard curler skimmed the top corner of the Spurs goal.

Soon after Modric was taken off to a standing ovation to be replaced by Jamie O'Hara.

Then came the icing on the cake for Spurs.

Bent received the ball wide and squared to Keane who deftly flicked the ball through a crowd of static Middlesbrough defenders for Lennon to finish cooly with a neat lob over the onrushing Brad Jones.

Tuncay then tested Gomez with a shot in anger from 20 yards which the Tottenham keeper pushed around the post.

Keane could have made it five a moment later but inexplicably headed over when found completely unmarked by an O'Hara corner six yards out.

Boro almost had a late consolation when Tuncay headed in a floating free kick during injury time - but it was correctly ruled out for offside to cap a miserable night for the northerners.

Goals: Keane 8, Pavlyuchenko 13, Lennon 39, 78.

Spurs

1 Heurelho Gomes (gk) 4 Didier Zokora 32 Benoit Assou-Ekotto 20 Michael Dawson 39 Jonathan Woodgate 7 Aaron Lennon 8 Jermaine Jenas (sub Tom Huddlestone 63mins) 12 Wilson Palacios 14 Luka Modric (sub O'Hara 71mins) 15 Robbie Keane (capt) 9 Roman Pavlyuchenko (sub Darren Bent 52mins)

Substitutes

23 Carlo Cudicini (gk) 21 Pascal Chimbonda 22 Vedran Corluka 6 Tom Huddlestone 5 David Bentley 24 Jamie O'Hara 10 Darren Bent

Middlesbrough

22 Brad Jones 2 Justin Hoyte (sub Adam Johnson 69mins) 4 Gary O'Neil 6 Emanuel Pogatetz (capt) 10 Jeremie Aliadiere (sub Marlon King 52mins) 14 Robert Huth (sub Andrew Taylor 45mins) 17 Tuncay 19 Stewart Downing 20 Julio Arca 26 Matthew Bates 31 David Wheater

Substitutes

21 Ross Turnbull (gk) 3 Andrew Taylor 11 Marvin Emnes 12 Afonso Alves 16 Marlon King 28 Adam Johnson 41 Josh Walker

Officials

Mr H Webb Mr D Cann Mr M Mullarkey Mr A Woolmer