CHRIS Samba capped a perfect week with an injury-time winner at White Hart Lane.

The 23-year-old superstar, who signed a new five-year deal on Monday, sealed the points with a stunning strike three minutes into added time on another thrilling afternoon in North London.

Robbie Keane had opened the scoring for the home side with a well-taken penalty just minutes after the break, but Rovers' response was remarkable.

Benni McCarthy's fourth goal in his last three games levelled the scores with an hour on the clock and Samba crowned a man-of-the-match display with the decisive strike late on.

Before the game, manager Mark Hughes stuck with the same starting eleven that comfortably defeated Reading at Ewood Park last weekend, with club captain Ryan Nelsen the only change to the 16-man squad in place of Zurab Khizanishvili.

The home side, managed by Clive Allen, made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Getafe in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night, with Michael Dawson replacing the injured Anthony Gardner and Keane preferred to Jermain Defoe in attack.

Eager to impress new boss Juande Ramos, who was sat watching from the stands, Spurs started the game at a good tempo.

On three minutes, Dimitar Berbatov collected a long pass over the top, Samba got an initial foot to the ball, before throwing his body in the way to block the Bulgarian's follow-up.

But Rovers soon got their passing game going and should have taken the lead on the 10-minute mark. Following some lovely one-touch football, Roque Santa Cruz played in David Bentley on the right and the England man easily stepped inside Young-Pyo Lee before blasting a left-foot shot well wide of the mark.

On 16 minutes, Samba had to be alert to put Aaron Lennon's dangerous ball in behind for a corner and moments later Brad Friedel had to smother Dawson's flick, from Tom Huddlestone's free-kick.

The home side's best chance of the half arrived on 21 minutes. Steed Malbranque made an excellent break through the centre and when the ball was played back to him on the edge of the box, the Frenchman lifted it clean through to Lennon, who was denied by the onrushing Friedel. A minute later and Keane's free header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the big American.

Just past the half-hour mark, Stephen Warnock intercepted the ball in midfield and found Santa Cruz, but the Paraguayan's tame shot was comfortably saved. And straight up the other end, Keane played the ball through to Berbatov, who fired into the side net under another challenge from Samba.

The most worrying moment of the opening period arrived on 41 minutes, when Robbie Savage stayed down following a challenge on Keane. The Irishman immediately signalled for the Rovers medical staff to come to Savage's aid, amid fears that he may have broken his leg once again. Thankfully the Welshman was soon back on his feet and back on the pitch, but was ultimately unable to carry on and was replaced by Aaron Mokoena on the stroke of half-time.

As with the first half, the home side started brightly after the break and opened the scoring on 48 minutes. Lennon took control of a long ball forward and after out-pacing Warnock into the box, a tangle of legs resulted in referee Rob Styles pointing to the spot. Up stepped Keane, who confidently fired the ball high into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Buoyed by the goal and with the vocal support of the home fans, Spurs pushed for a second - and it almost arrived just five minutes later. A ball into the box was flicked round the corner by Berbatov to Lee, but the Korean's close-range effort forced another superb save from Friedel.

In need of a goal, Rovers made an attacking change on the hour mark, with Morten Gamst Pedersen coming on for Tugay, and it paid immediate reward. Straight from the substitution, Mokoena found Bentley, the referee waved play on when the ex-Arsenal ace was fouled and McCarthy's deflected shot looped over the head of Radek Cerny into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

Spurs responded well however and almost regained their lead six minutes later. Keane picked out his strike partner with a delicate cross from the left, but Berbatov's free header - straight at Friedel - was tipped over the bar.

The game became scrappy soon after, with Gamst's full-bloodied challenge on Dawson causing friction between players and staff alike and a trio of yellow cards swiftly brandished.

Spurs sent on the reinforces, with Defoe and Darren Bent both coming on for the home side, but it was Hughes' troops who looked the more likely of grabbing the winner.

Following a lightening quick break, Gamst almost got it in the 91st minute with a dipping shot from outside the box, but in the third minute of time added on, Samba popped up on the left-hand edge of the box and the giant Congo defender delightfully curled the ball into the far corner of the net.

So its six of the best from Rovers, as their impressive unbeaten run continues.

TOTTENHAM: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon, Huddlestone, Zokora, Malbranque (sub Bent 76 mins), Keane (c), Berbatov (sub Defoe 89 mins).

Subs not used: Alnwick (GK), Tainio, Stalteri.

ROVERS: Friedel (c), Emerton, Ooijer, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Tugay (sub Pedersen 60 mins), Savage (sub Mokoena 45 mins), Dunn (sub Derbyshire 84 mins), McCarthy, Santa Cruz.

Subs not used: Brown (GK), Nelsen.

Booked: Huddlestone, Zokora, Lee, Defoe (Tottenham), Dunn, Warnock, Santa Cruz (Rovers).

Attendance: 36,086