Doherty dares to dream again

'Mick McCarthy has kept in touch with me all along, wanting to know how the injury was going, which was a boost, and although I've been out for a long time, I know I've still got half a chance if I can get my form back.

'I have to say the reception the Spurs fans gave me was great. I don't know if I'm really that popular, though, or if they just felt sorry for me.'

Teddy Sheringham's typically opportunistic opener in the 52nd minute was scored from a rebound off a Steffen Iversen effort. Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle, despite his frustration at seeing his side caught out after failing to capitalise on the lead, took almost as much comfort in Doherty's return to action as did the player himself.

Hoddle said: 'Gary's a smashing lad, really genuine and one of those boys you want to do well.

'He and Steve are probably sick of the sight of each other after spending so much time together, but he can sneak into the World Cup and that would be great for him.' For West Ham's Ian Pearce, two years of frustration were wiped away by the stunning left-footer that earned his side a point and saved face in north London.

Pearce celebrated his thunderbolt as if it was a Cup Final winner but the defender knows all about the frustration of injury - as does his club captain Steve Lomas.

The Northern Ireland midfielder, no stranger to the treatment table himself, admitted: 'It gets so cold and lonely in the gym sometimes you feel like hanging yourself. You need to wear Velcro shoes, just so you can keep those laces away!

'That's why we all feel so pleased for Ian. He's had a really tough two years and it's been especially hard to take because the way he was developing before the injury means he would have had a real chance of an England place by now.' Pearce's stunning strike served only to heighten Spurs misfit Sergei Rebrov's unhappiness. The Ukraine striker lasted just 45 miserable minutes before being replaced by Iversen.

It was another sign that his time at White Hart Lane must surely end this summer, and even Hoddle seemed at a loss to explain where it has gone wrong.

The Tottenham boss said: 'Sergei hasn't become a bad player overnight, but maybe he's just found it hard to adjust to the style of football that we play around here.

'I've spoken to him privately on many occasions to try to get the best for him and get him back into good form. I have to say that his attitude is good and he's working for it. Maybe he just needs a goal or two for it to click into place.'