Tottenham survive scare to reach Cup quarters

London: Striker Jermain Defoe scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur came from a goal down to beat third tier Stevenage 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The victory came at a heavy cost, however, with defender Michael Dawson suffering what manager Harry Redknapp feared was a season-ending injury. Defoe fired in the equaliser in the 26th minute after feisty Stevenage took a shock lead at White Hart Lane through a fourth- minute Joel Byrom penalty. Emmanuel Adebayor made it 2-1 in the 55th from the penalty spot before Defoe made the fifth-round replay safe with a 75th- minute shot from the edge of the box. Tottenham, the eight-times Cup winners and currently third in the Premier League, will host fellow Premier League Bolton Wanderers in the last eight. "It was tough. I didn`t come here tonight expecting it to be easy," Redknapp told reporters. "They are big, strong and great on set plays. Every corner is a problem." Dawson was carried off on a stretcher after just nine minutes and winger Aaron Lennon was also injured. "It looked like his ankle. Looking at his injury tonight it would be a miracle (if he played again this season)," Redknapp said of Dawson. "He`s a great guy and a fantastic professional and a big loss to us. We want Michael in our team that`s for sure." Lennon went off just before halftime with a recurrence of a hamstring injury that has plagued him all season and could also miss Saturday`s trip to Everton. Asked about his priorities for the season, Redknapp said; "We want Champions League football and we want to win the FA Cup. Both are important. "It`s good to see Jermain back scoring. He`s a good finisher and a good player when he`s in that type of form." Bureau Report