Robbo wonder save robs old pal Mark

On Saturday, Robinson, an unused substitute in the Mestalla that night, produced a breathtaking save to deny his old pal, an instinctive move to his left which pushed Tottenham that bit closer to their own return to Europe, albeit in the UEFA Cup.

Scroll down to read more:

While Leeds now flounder — all but mathematically a League One side — their old boys continue to do rather well.

"It was a very, very good save from Robbo," said Viduka. "I thought it was hitting the back of the net but somehow he's put out his left hand. It's an instinctive save. If you want to know what I said to him, you'd need stars after it but it began with "f"!

"We started off slowly for some reason and came out cautiously and when you play like that you give the opposition time on the ball and they did us some damage.

"Then we came out after the break and conceded a beautiful goal and I don't think we could have done too much about it. It was a sucker punch. We showed a lot of determination to come back and we dominated the game. With the players we have, we think we should be higher in the league. A telling factor has been Julio Arca's absence. He's been a big miss."

Only through Viduka did a woeful Middlesbrough have the slightest hope of salvaging something from this game. Only in Robinson did Spurs have a player not affected by the soft underbelly that stifles Martin Jol's side from real progress.

By the 68th minute, when Robinson produced his magic, Tottenham should have been out of sight.

Ahead after just 12 minutes through Robbie Keane's neat 12-yard finish, they dominated and then doubled their lead two minutes into the second half. Dimitar Berbatov scored with an expertly controlled volley from outside the penalty area.

That should have been game over, but Gareth Southgate's side, who were awful for the first 45 minutes, turned to a familiar outlet in Viduka to grab a lifeline — the Australian heading past Robinson in the 66th minute.

Two minutes later Robinson produced his wonder stop and then Keane fired in his second with seven minutes remaining.

Again Spurs switched off and a flicker of hope for the home side followed Emanuel Pogatetz's last-minute header.

Spurs captain Ledley King said: "UEFA Cup football's massive for us. Having had a taste of it, it's essential we get back in there — we want to be a big side. This is a side that's full of potential."