Tottenham laboured to a 3-0 victory over Derby County at Pride Park.

Second-half goals from Robbie Keane, Younes Kaboul and a Dimitar Berbatov penalty sent Spurs home with all three points and left Rams manager Paul Jewell still looking for his first league win.

Striker Keane scored one of the easiest goals of his career after goalkeeper Roy Carroll, who had an otherwise impressive match, palmed Steed Malbranque's shot into the Irishman's path for a tap-in.

Kaboul doubled the lead with ten minutes remaining by feinting past Andy Todd before firing low into the net.

Substitute Berbatov put the gloss on the result in stoppage time with a penalty after Alan Stubbs was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball.

Tottenham are still in 11th place after the win, but have cut the gap between them and tenth-placed West Ham to just five points, whle Derby remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

The home side displayed much more desire to win right from the kick off, as Tottenham seemed content to let them have the bulk of the possession.

The match was halted after ten minutes when both sides were forced into early defensive changes. Derby's Darren Moore had to be replaced by Andy Todd, while Tottenham's Michael Dawson limped off to make way for Kaboul.

Derby had chances to push home their advantage, with Argentinian striker Emanuel Villa forcing a good save at the near post from goalkeeper Radek Cerny.

The Czech keeper was then left to sprawl helplessly midway through the half as Stephen Pearson slipped a ball through the defence for Giles Barnes, but the young forward rushed his effort and poked it wide.

Tottenham, unlucky not to have beaten Manchester United last weekend, looked complacent against the side rooted to the bottom of the table, but still had opportunities of their own.

Darren Bent got his first chance to impress seven minutes in when he beat Moore for pace and fired a low shot that Carroll saved.

Carroll was called into action again two minutes later when Steed Malbranque's dummy allowed Keane to turn and shoot from the edge of the box, and the Northern Ireland international did well to go to ground and turn the effort round the post.

Aaron Lennon had his appeals for a penalty for a penalty waved away by referee Martin Atkinson after a challenge from Todd on the half hour mark, minutes before Kaboul's tame shot from a Lennon cross went straight at Carroll.

At half time Spurs manager Juande Ramos brought Jamie O'Hara on for the ineffective Kevin-Prince Boateng, and just before the hour-mark swapped Bent for Berbatov in a bid to inject some creativity into the Spurs attack.

The Bulgarian striker did just that, providing the link between midfield and attack and, although he wasn't directly involved in either of the first two goals, gave the whole Spurs team a lift which showed just how valuable an asset he has become for them.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport