LONDON, Sept 16: Anthony Gardner was the unlikely hero as Tottenham Hotspur went second in the English premier league with a seesaw 3-2 victory over bottom club West Ham United Sunday.

The leggy defender drove in a deflected winner, his first goal for Spurs, with a minute left at White Hart Lane to snatch victory against a West Ham side who recovered from 1-0 and 2-1 down to equalise despite having defender Ian Pearce sent off.

In Sunday’s other game, 10-man Manchester City fought back from two goals down with 10 minutes left to draw 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers in a thrilling encounter at Maine Road.

Spurs’ win lifted their points tally to 13 from six games, one less than Arsenal who beat Charlton Athletic 3-0 on Saturday.

New striker Robbie Keane made his debut for Spurs but he, like the rest of his team, had a first half to forget.

The game exploded into life after Simon Davies calmly swept home a fine Matthew Etherington cross after 62 minutes.

Frederic Kanoute levelled for West Ham four minutes later and then Keane fooled Pearce with some lovely skill to win a penalty. Pearce was sent off and Teddy Sheringham whacked in the spot kick to make it 2-1 with 19 minutes left.

West Ham bravely equalised again when Trevor Sinclair diverted in Paolo Di Canio’s free kick with Spurs’ defence asleep but the 20-year-old Gardner saved the home side’s blushes when he hammered a deflected shot into the net from 20 metres.

There was similar drama at Maine Road.

Blackburn led 2-0 through David Thompson and Andy Cole before City’s Danny Tiatto was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

The home side looked to be finished but goals by Nicolas Anelka, after 80 minutes, and substitute Shaun Goater in the dying seconds salvaged an unlikely point.

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