With 20 minutes remaining Ramos took off a centre-back, introducing Bent for Michael Dawson, while O'Hara came on for Aaron Lennon.

Within 10 minutes, Bent nodded home after Dimitar Berbatov scuffed a shot into his path. Bent then raided down the right and crossed for O'Hara to tap into an unguarded net.

"We take off a defender when it is urgent," Ramos said. "It brings a risk and today it paid off, other times it doesn't pay off in the same way.

"The decisions to make changes are not made for the sake of it. It is to turn matches around. They have worked well. The players are aware of why we make them - a solution for a game that is blocked up."

"Benty opened up the whole match," said Spurs assistant boss Gus Poyet. "The substitutes don't always know how important they can be.

"We know how many goals Robbie and Berba have scored - it's a good partnership," Poyet added. "But if he keeps coming on and scoring goals he will get his chance sooner or later."