Tottenham Hotspur proved too strong for Mark Cooper's Peterborough United at a packed White Hart Lane as Harry Redknapp's men progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 win over Peterborough United.

Harry Redknapp was certainly taking the FA Cup seriously, fielding his strongest possible side at White Hart Lane, including Jermain Defoe in attack amongst a wealth of international talent.

George Boyd had the first effort on goal for Mark Cooper's men on two minutes, but his 30-yard shot flew over the crossbar. At the other end, Wilson Palacios fired well wide at the other end from a similar distance as the game started at a decent pace.

In-form Jermain Defoe saw a shot blocked by Ryan Bennett on seven minutes before the same player superbly diverted a low Bale cross away for a corner kick. The home side should have broken the deadlock on nine minutes as Defoe somehow managed to hit the crossbar from less than two yards out and if you are to be successful in the FA Cup, you need lady luck on your side and Posh had it in abundance in that instance.

The pressure was continuing though and Joe Lewis had to be alert to deny Robbie Keane at the near post after a cross from Defoe deflected into the Irishman's path. Tom Huddlestone was then denied by Lewis after Lee was penalised for a foul 25-yards from goal.

Craig Morgan was well positioned to clear from a low Kranjcar centre moments later and it was all one-way traffic in the early exchanges with Spurs pinning Posh back.Kranjcar then fired over from close range after a good cut-back from Modric.  

It was a shoot on sight policy from the home side as Keane sliced a shot wide of the target on 22 minutes after Posh struggled to clear a corner kick. Posh won a corner kick moments later after good play from Lee, but Whelpdale headed the set-piece wide at the far post.

Goalkeeper Lewis then producing a stunning save to tip a fierce Kranjcar effort onto the crossbar after a brilliant flick from Defoe. It was an unbelievable stop from by the goalkeeper to keep the scores level.

Posh were dealt a hammer blow on 29 minutes as Lewis sustained a reoccurance of his side injury denying Keane and despite treatment from physiotherapist Keith Oakes, but he decided to play on through the pain.

The hosts did find a breakthrough on 34 minutes as a sweeping pass from Modric picked out KRANJCAR who cut inside and curled a superb right-foot shot past Lewis and into the corner of the net.

Lewis was having an inspired afternoon, denying Defoe as he raced clear and then even more impressively Keane with the rebound as the Irishman tried to dink the ball over him. He was then alert to push a curling Bale effort around the post as Posh prayed for half-time.

Lewis was given a standing ovation from both sets of supporters on 39 minutes after tipping a drilled shot from Huddlestone, which packed plenty of punch, around the post. Boyd was booked for a high tackle on 40 minutes before Frecklington saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Bassong after a corner was half cleared by Dawson.

Gomes was called into action two minutes before the break after Frecklington's curler nearly caught him out, the goalkeeper grabbing the ball at the second attempt. Lee was then booked for a foul as two minutes of added time was indicated by the fourth official.

Half-time: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Posh

Keane was denied by Lewis again after the break, but he could do nothing to stop KRANJCAR from doubling the lead on 56 minutes as he slid the ball home from close-range after good work from Bale.

Boyd fired over at the end while Gomes was well placed to intercept a low centre from Boyd as Posh continued to play with plenty of heart. In fact Gomes was forced into a serious save on 66 minutes as he expertly tipped over a curling Mackail-Smith effort from fully 25-yards.

Shaun Batt replaced Frecklington as Posh enjoyed their best spell of the game, but unfortunately the quality of the Tottenham attack soon added a third as another low Bale centre was converted at the near post by DEFOE on 69 minutes.

Batt did cause some problems with his pace and his superb cross-shot was tipped away from Mackail-Smith by Gomes. Former Posh loanee Danny Rose was introduced to the crowd and was booed by the Posh support, but he skipped past Batt and delivered a superb cross which was well cleared by Bennett.

Roman Pavlyuchenko replaced the injured Defoe for the final quarter and the Spurs fans were certainly pleased at his introduction. The impressive Bale was replaced on 78 minutes by Kyle Naughton.

Batt, impressive in a cameo, was forced off the field eight minutes from time after he was sick on the pitch but he wasn't keen to be replaced so decided to carry on. Rose was booked for a terrible tackle on Lee as he burst through midfield before he was replaced to a great ovation by Dominic Green, Green took the resulting free-kick, but it struck the wall.

Griffiths produced a fine block to deny substitute Pavlyuchenko two minutes from time but the corner kick came to nothing. Posh had appeals for a spot kick turned down in stoppage time after Bassong appeared to handle under pressure from Mackail-Smith. Keane had the ball in the back of the net at the other end, but the offside flag chalked it out.

Posh had more blatant appeals turned down for a penalty when Batt appeared to be clipped by Dawson as he raced past three challenges and burst into the area. However, the referee was quick to award the hosts a penalty at the other end as Whelpdale tripped on Rose and KEANE stepped up to convert from the spot.

Final Score: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Posh

Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Bale (sub Naughton 78min), Huddlestone, Keane, Palacios, Modric, Defoe (sub Pavlyuchenko 74min), Bassong, Dawson, Kranjcar (sub Rose 72min). Unused subs: Alnwick, Crouch, Dos Santos, Corluka.

Posh: Lewis, Williams (sub Rowe 72min), Morgan, Lee (sub Green 86min), Coutts, Frecklington (sub Batt 68min), Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Whelpdale, Bennett, Griffiths. Unused subs: McKeown, Diagouraga, Wright, McCrae.