Premier League: Tottenham 2 Bolton 1

Niko Kranjcar emerged from the bench to score Tottenham’s last-minute winner against Bolton at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

An early Rafael van der Vaart penalty had been cancelled out by Daniel Sturridge’s second-half effort but substitute Kranjcar, who had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes, scored a spectacular 93rd-minute goal to give Spurs all three points in their 2-1 triumph.

The home side could not have asked for a better start and took the lead with only four minutes on the clock.

Van der Vaart’s free-kick form the edge of the area caused panic in the box, the ball striking Kevin Davies on the arm leaving referee Mark Clattenburg no choice but to point to the spot. The Dutchman coolly dispatched the penalty for his 10th English Premier League goal this season.

Immediately from the re-start, Bolton lost possession to Aaron Lennon who surged at Wanderers’ back-line and tricked his way into the box.

Bolton defender Sam Ricketts stuck out a leg in attempt to stop the winger but was a fraction too late and sent Lennon flying.

Van der Vaart clinically tucked his second penalty of the day past Jussi Jaaskelainen, however Clattenberg ordered a re-take due to an encroachment by Wilson Palacios.

The Dutchman sent the ball exactly the same way, but unlike his other two successful penalties, this third attempt flew inches wide of the post to keep Bolton in the game.

Tottenham’s bad luck continued as striker Jermain Defoe had a header ruled out for offside after a precise van der Vaart cross, while Peter Crouch dallied on the ball when one-on-one with Jaaskelainen allowing Paul Robinson to come to the visitors’ rescue with an excellent sliding challenge.

Just before half-time, Clattenberg was pointing to the spot again after a Gary Cahill handball, but the referee hadn’t seen the linesman’s flag which had been raised moments earlier for an offside.

Steven Pienaar made his home debut, coming on at half-time for van der Vaart who had a calf problem, and was immediately causing problems.

But it was another player signed in January, Bolton’s Daniel Sturridge, who had the bigger impact, as the striker on-loan from Chelsea levelled 10 minutes into the second half.

A Bolton break saw Mark Davies feed the former Manchester City player in space on the edge of the area, and the young forward curled the ball low into the corner past the despairing dive of Heurelho Gomes.

Moments later Cahill was booked for diving in the box, while at the other end Defoe flashed an effort over from 20 yards as both sides threatened to take the lead.

Jermaine Jenas then came closest to breaking the deadlock as he rattled the post from a free-kick and Pienaar almost capped his White Hart Lane debut with a goal but was denied down low by Jaaskelainen.

It was left then to Kranjcar to seal the win deep into stoppage time; the Croatian dancing passed two defenders before releasing a long-range effort Jaaskelainen could only palm into the net.