SHAMROCK ROVERS suffered an unfortunate 3-1 loss to Tottenham at White Hart Lane in a UEFA Europa League tie that they led for ten minutes.

Michael O'Neill's Hoops produced a brave display and were roared on by more than 5,000 passionate Rovers fans on a night where they almost made history once more.

Thanks to Stephen Rice's 51st minute opener, the Airtricity League champions briefly had their sights on an incredible victory but they held onto that lead for less than ten minutes.

Tottenham had started very strongly with Mexican star Giovanni Dos Santos had an effort pushed onto the crossbar by Rovers keeper Richard Brush.

Brush then produced another top class save to deny Roman Pavyluchenko in the 20th minute when it seemed certain the Russian international would score.

The one-way traffic continued with Tottenham hitting the crossbar once more in the 33rd minute when Richard Rose's looping effort beat Brush and it took a brave block by Dan Murray to deny Sebastien Bassing from the rebound.

Five minutes later Pavlyuchenko got a header on target but Rice was in the right place to clear off the line.

The Hoops went for it after the break and four minutes in they had taken the lead. Gary McCabe won a free-kick which he took himself and forced Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini to parry.

Pat Sullivan fired in the loose ball from just outside the box and Rice was in the right place to divert it past Cudicini to send the visiting fans into raptures.

Unfortunately the Premier League outfit would not be denied and Pavlyuchenko headed home the equaliser in the 59th minute when he connected with a Dos Santos left wing cross after poor defending by the Hoops out wide.

Two minutes later substitute Andros Townsend produced brilliant strength and pace on the left to fire over a cross that England star Jermaine Defore steered home with his head from a matter of six yards.

Spurs continued their assault on the visiting goal in the 65th minute when Dos Santos made it 3-1 after a rapid counter-attack. Rose robbed Rice on the right wing before running the length of the field and feeding Dos Santos, who finished with aplomb.

Brush denied Palyuchenko once more in the 77th minute and 60 seconds later Billy Dennehy had a powerful strike just over from a tight angle after cutting in from the right.

Hoops fans claimed Dennehy was fouled late on for what would have been a penalty but nothing came of it and the final whistle blew on an exciting evening moments later.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Cudicini; Walker, Bassong, Corluka, Rose (Kane 80), Lennon (Townsend 46), Livermore, Carroll, Dos Santos, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe (Falque 73).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson (Stevens 46), Rice, McCabe, O'Donnell (McCormack 46), Dennehy, Finn (Ricketts 72), Twigg.

REFEREE: G Mazeika.