Spurs 1-2 Leeds

	Spurs scorer Les Ferdinand in action against Leeds (Ben Radford/Allsport)

Those who insist Rio Ferdinand cannot be trusted with an England jersey until he has eradicated his defensive howlers will be sporting their told-you-so looks again.

Thankfully for the richly-talented Rio, Sven Goran Eriksson was not at White Hart Lane to witness the latest calamity for the £18 million centre-half.

But there would have been a crumb of comfort if the new England coach had viewed Ferdinand's performance in its entirety.

For Rio, stretched by his rejuvenated second cousin Les, was nevertheless beautifully assured and composed for the most part.

Alas, not in the 33rd minute when, under no pressure, the Leeds defender produced an embarrassingly slipshod header that provided Sergei Rebrov with an open invitation to send Les galloping for goal.

The Spurs striker, performing as impressively as he was when collecting England caps of his own, nonchalantly swerved away from a vain attempt at intervention by goalkeeper Nigel Martyn to put Spurs ahead.

Hardly an ideal position for Leeds and their stand-in captain, in the absence through suspension of Lucas Radebe, against opposition seeking to establish a new club record of six successive games without conceding a goal.

Leeds boss David O'Leary pointed out: 'Rio has made other mistakes apart from that one. He has to learn from them and I reminded him of that at half-time, in the nicest possible way.

'Rio is still getting to grips with playing in a back four. In fairness he has been outstanding since he joined us. Sven Goran Eriksson does not need to look at him further. He is a quality player.'

As Leeds' European exploits have demonstrated this season, there is a durable layer of Yorkshire grit and determination embedded in O'Leary's team.

And there was not a player more thankful than Ferdinand when inexperienced Tottenham defender Gary Doherty clumsily brought down the seasoned Lee Bowyer in first-half injury-time.

Ian Harte removed those Ferdinand blushes with a penalty unceremoniously thumped past Neil Sullivan.

It was nothing more than Leeds deserved, having been denied a penalty in the opening minute when Sol Campbell bundled over Mark Viduka.

Campbell suffered a torrid time from the combative Aussie before exerting his customary defensive command.

Yet even the Tottenham and potential England captain could not quite subdue completely the always-efferves-cent Leeds.

And Ferdinand was afforded further relief in the 57th minute when Bowyer scored from 25 yards as Viduka confused goalkeeper Sullivan with a vain attempt at diverting the ball.

Tottenham could hardly feel aggrieved because seven minutes earlier only a desperate save by the goalkeeper from Viduka and a brilliant block on the line by Stephen Clemence, when Bowyer followed up, kept them on level terms.

Spurs, as would be expected under the stewardship of George Graham, attempted a spirited response.

And, in the absence of eight first-team players through injuries, their promising youngsters gave it their best shot.

But Leeds, breaking into attack in an exhilarating fashion, produced the majority of the menacing moments.

Young Tottenham substitute Alton Thelwell did well to block Robbie Keane and Viduka was denied a goal only by a brilliant intervention by Sullivan in the last minute.