03 January,2009 12:32 PM IST | | AFP
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored twice as Tottenham reached the FA Cup fourth round yesterday with a 3-1 win over fellow Premier League outfit Wigan which kept the London side on course for a double Cup success this season.
Russian striker Pavlyuchenko, with a 52nd-minute penalty, and a 76th-minute header from Croatian star Luka Modric sent the eight-time FA Cup winners on their way at White Hart Lane.
They had to survive a nervous last few moments when Senegal international Henri Camara found the target for Wigan in the 88th minute before Pavlyuchenko added his second in stoppage time with a fine drive.
The win gave Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who coached Portsmouth to FA Cup glory last season, the perfect build-up to Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg clash against Burnley.
"Pavlyuchenko did well today and he also worked hard for the team which is encouraging," said Redknapp.
Wigan, flying high in seventh place in the Premier League, were without leading strikers Emile Heskey and top scorer Amir Zaki, as well as goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, through injury.
"We were right in it but we had a few players missing and didn't have the firepower," admitted Wigan boss Steve Bruce whose team will welcome Spurs in a league game on Sunday week.
"Hopefully, you'll see a different Wigan team in that match."
In a poor first half yesterday, Camara narrowly headed wide from a fine cross by Antonio Valencia in the seventh minute while Modric spurned Spurs's best chance moments later when he drove wide of the post after a good one-two with Pavlyuchenko.
Tottenham were in front seven minutes after the break.
Substitute Fraser Campbell was brought down by Wigan's debutant keeper Richard Kingson which allowed Pavlyuchenko to score from the penalty spot for his eighth goal of the season.
Modric grabbed the second with a diving header after a 30-metre drive from Jamie O'Hara came off the post.
Camara then pulled one back for Wigan after substitute Maynor Figueroa had scuffed his attempt as the clock ticked down.
But Pavlyuchenko made the game safe with a smart long-distance effort in the third minute of injury time.
