Berbatov leads goal frenzy

The visitors held the lead three times in the second half after goals from Kalifa Cisse, Ivar Ingimarsson and a double from Dave Kitson.

But Berbatov's strikes were the difference, with Steed Malbranque and Jermain Defoe grabbing the others.

Reading's team bus was held up in traffic and their squad had to be phoned through - but there was no delay in the action when play got under way. The opener came in the seventh minute from a move started by Malbranque playing through Robbie Keane down the right flank. Keane instinctively crossed first time and Berbatov squeezed between defenders and tapped in.

The equaliser came nine minutes later after Berbatov fouled Kevin Doyle on the halfway line. Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson called to claim Nicky Shorey's free-kick and tried to punch as Younes Kaboul looked to clear. The ball fell limply to Cisse and the midfielder stabbed in the rebound from the edge of the area.

Reading went ahead in the 53rd minute after Kaboul was forced to slide in to block a shot from Kitson. Shorey's corner found Ingimarsson, who was unmarked and thumped his header past Robinson for 2-1.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos responded by taking off skipper Ledley King, who is still working himself back to full fitness, for Defoe. And they were level in the 63rd minute when Defoe scampered down the right - his cross was weak but Graeme Murty failed to clear and Berbatov lashed into the roof of the net.

Inevitably it was from a set-piece that Reading took the lead again to go 3-2 up. Kitson stole in at the near post and headed in Shorey's corner. But Berbatov levelled in the 72nd minute when he hooked in his hat-trick after Chimbonda headed down Jenas' corner from the right.

There was no sign of the pace stopping. Kitson raced through and chipped Robinson to make it 4-3, but Malbranque curled into the top corner to restore parity.

And Spurs were ahead again with 12 minutes remaining when Sonko brought down Keane in the area. Marcus Hahnemann saved Keane's spot-kick but Defoe slid in with a diving header to tuck away the rebound. Berbatov scored his fourth in the 83rd minute, chasing a hopeful long ball and crashing in a volley from the edge of the area.