Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp made a triumphant return to Fratton Park but Jermain Defoe was sent off for a stamp in the Barclays Premier League victory against Portsmouth.
After leaving Pompey nearly a year ago, Redknapp eventually took Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar with him - and almost inevitably Defoe got on the scoresheet after Ledley King had broken the deadlock.
Defoe getting sent off, however, was not in the script - and it set up a thrilling finale after Kevin-Prince Boateng had pulled a goal back, although Pompey had Michael Brown dismissed late on.
It looked like being a straightforward win for Spurs. Pompey were FA Cup holders and looking healthy in the league when Redknapp left but his Spurs team took advantage of the problems that Tony Adams and Paul Hart have faced since, namely a lack of quality due to players being sold.
The hosts should have taken the lead when Aruna Dindane was presented with an open goal but Spurs managed to stay on level terms and pick Hart's men off with simple goals to give themselves a two-goal lead before the interval.
Defoe had missed England duty with a hand injury and appeared determined to make up for lost time. He went on an early run and forced David James into a save with low drive, then after nine minutes he raced onto Tom Huddlestone's throughball and smacked the near post.
headed finish
Pompey's threat came through Boateng. His corner led to Aaron Mokoena glancing a header wide, then he had a go himself from the halfway line and cleared Heurelho Gomes' crossbar.
After 12 minutes came the moment that will haunt Dindane. Tommy Smith's precise cross cut through the Spurs defence and Gomes, but Dindane hacked over from inside the six-yard box.
It was a huge let-off for the visitors. Gomes then ensured the score stayed level when he pulled off a stunning save from Kaboul's free-kick.
Kaboul's drive flicked off Smith to wrong-foot Gomes but the Brazilian readjusted and clawed the effort over the crossbar.
Despite Pompey's pressure and chances, Spurs were ahead just before the half-hour mark. Kranjcar swung over a corner from the right and King, just back from a hamstring injury, climbed above Mokoena and Kaboul, with his headed finish taking advantage of indecision from James.
stunning save
The second goal came on the stroke of half-time. Jermaine Jenas exchanged passes with Huddlestone and crossed for Defoe to tap home his 10th of the season for club and country.
Pompey attempted to find a way back into the match and felt they could have been awarded a penalty when Vedran Corluka appeared to handle in the penalty area following a mix-up with Gomes - but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.
Mokoena, who was booked for a foul on Jenas, also tried his luck from long range but went wide with his powerful effort, while Smith forced another fine save from Gomes with a lob.
Finally the Pompey fans then had something to cheer about when Boateng pulled a goal back.
Steve Finnan's cross found Boateng unmarked at the far post and Boateng lashed into the near post.
Gomes, comfortably Spurs' man of the match, kept his side ahead with a stunning save to deny Hassan Yebda towards the end and Frederic Piquionne flashed a header across the face of goal.
