MIDDLESBROUGH'S Champion's League train came to a shuddering halt yesterday at White Hart Lane.

The Boro carriage was gathering a steady head of steam after going seven league games without defeat, but a Franck Queudrue red card five minutes before the break, and two second half goals from Jermaine Defoe and Frederick Kanoute saw their European hopes derailed somewhat.

The defeat means the Teessiders drop one place to fifth, below Manchester United who leapt above them thanks to a 3-0 win at West Brom on Saturday.

The Teessiders could draw comfort, however, in knowing that they had not lost much ground on their nearest rivals. Bolton and Aston Villa both lost, while Everton carved out a 1-1 draw against Newcastle at St James' Park.

Boss Steve McClaren made two changes to the Boro side which lost 2-0 in the UEFA Cup to Villarreal in Spain, bringing back Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for Joseph Desire Job and Doriva, who both took their places on the bench.

Hist first-choice strikers have been going through a barren spell in front of goal recently and there was no change yesterday. Hasselbaink has not found the target in nine games; while his strike partner Viduka has now gone 12.

The talented twosome probably provide the key to opening Boro's Champions League door this season.

But if the Teessiders are to realise their dreams and play against Europe's aristocracy in the next campaign the pair need to find their keys, and fast.

Nouredine Naybet declared Tottenham were in a state of crisis before yesterday's Premiership clash.

The Morocco international claimed Spurs "were not a good team", after playing his part in the Lillywhites' run of six successive league defeats before yesterday.

On the evidence on display at White Hart Lane this was a fair comment. Spurs looked like a team out of sorts and lacking in confidence, and before Queudrue's dismissal were there for the taking.

The victory was Martin Jol's first league success since replacing previous coach Jacques Santini four games ago; he had lost the previous three.

Defeat against the Teessiders would have meant Spurs equalling Ossie Ardiles' seven successive losses in 1994.

The first half was an uneventful affair high on endeavour with little of note to get excited about until Queudrue made an unnecessary two-footed lunge on Noe Pamarot five minutes before the break.

Referee Phil Dowd was in no doubt of its severity and promptly flashed a straight red at the Frenchman, much to the annoyance of the Middlesbrough boss, who remonstrated with the official at half-time.

Boro started brightly enough and enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early stages with Stewart Downing showing some delightful touches when linking up with Hasselbaink.

The Teessiders survived a scare after six minutes when a break away saw Robbie Keane, Paramot and Defoe link up with devastating precision before Gareth Southgate sniffed out the danger six yards from goal.

A promising move initiated by the precocious Downing six minutes later nearly got Boro off to a dream start. The England Under- 21 international floated a ball onto the head of Hasselbaink who nodded the ball into the path of former Arsenal man Ray Parlour, but his shot flashed wide of Paul Robinson's post.

Spurs responded moments later from a free-kick through England striker Defoe, and despite the home fans' cheers, the classy forward hit the side netting after his initial shot was charged down by the Boro wall.

Hasselbaink tried an audacious lob from 40 yards on the half hour mark after Spurs' skipper Ledley King trod on the ball, but the Dutchman watched as his effort sailed over the bar.

Southgate had to be on his toes moments later after a delightful first time ball from Reto Ziegler found the fleet-footed Defoe. The Boro skipper tracked his man well and forced the Tottenham striker to shoot from an acute angle and he blazed wide.

Spurs started the second half with a bang. Mendes took advantage of emergency left back Bolo Zenden's hesitancy after only four minutes of the restart when he cut the ball square to the oncoming Defoe, who rifled home from close range low past a despairing Mark Schwarzer for his sixth league goal, ten in all, of the season.

The goal had Boro on the ropes as the home side started to exert their supremacy with the extra man. Both Mendes and Zeigler in particular were impressive directing all Spurs' best attacks.

It was a testimony to the Teessiders' resolve that they did not fall further behind straight after.

Boro had no option but to try and soak up the waves of home attacks and had the visitors managed to keep all 11 on the pitch the game was there for the taking.

Substitute Kanoute compounded Boro's misery 15 minutes from time, however, when Schwarzer blasted the ball off the former West Ham striker and it rebounded into the empty net. There seemed little danger when Parlour rolled the ball back to his keeper and it has to go down as a gaffe by the former Bradford goalkeeper.

The Boro stopper was nearly embarrassed further when another poor kick found Michael Carrick just 30 yards from goal but the Geordie boy lacked any composure when presented with a gilt-edged chance and the Aussie international's blushes were spared.

Boro nearly pulled a goal back from Downing's free-kick but England goalkeeper Robinson tipped superbly around the post eight minutes from time. Moments later Hasselbaink blazed high into the stand from a similar free-kick position but it was not to be.

Result: Tottenham Hostspur 2 Middlesbrough 0.

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