The Riverside Stadium DIMITAR Berbatov's brilliance and a double-strike from Robbie Keane kept Tottenham on course for a UEFA Cup place against Middlesbrough at The Riverside.

Keane's double sandwiched a magnificent 47th-minute volley from Bulgarian Berbatov, who caused havoc among the home rearguard throughout the afternoon.

Keane opened the scoring with a simple finish on 12 minutes, and two minutes into the second half the lead was doubled when Hossam Ghaly's cross found Berbatov and he volleyed past a helpless Mark Schwarzer from 25 yards.

Mark Viduka briefly narrowed the deficit with a 63rdminute header, but Keane secured the points after good work by Aaron Lennon.

Emanuel Pogatetz's grabbed a last-minute strike for Boro but it was too little, too late.