It was not the fairytale ending Albion were hoping for, yet Robbie Keane's wonderful late winner offered further proof of the magic of the FA Cup.

Keane was an unknown 17-year-old when Mark McGhee gave the prolific Republic of Ireland international his big break in English football for Wolves.

Keane has gone from strength to strength since celebrating his debut with both goals for Wolves in a 2-0 win away to Norwich.

Perhaps it was meant to be then that, eight years after his dramatic entry on that summer's day at Carrow Road, Keane should deny McGhee's Albion by scoring again.

Seven minutes remained of an absorbing third round tie when Keane emphasised the talent McGhee unleashed to deprive his team of a richly deserved replay.

He had his back to goal and Guy Butters right behind him when Erik Edman's cross reached him. There seemed no danger but in a flash Keane controlled the ball on his chest and swivelled to fire a right-foot volley past Michel Kuipers.

Butters, who began his career at White Hart Lane when Keane was still at junior school, looked the most disappointed of all the Albion players as they walked off at the final whistle but he had no need to be.

Keane has been doing this sort of thing to Premiership defences with eye-catching regularity lately. It was his fifth goal in eight games, the Seagulls joining Blackburn, Southampton, Norwich and Everton as victims of the Keane finishing school.

What a stylish way to bring up his career century and what a refreshing gesture by Keane to remember the man who gave him the chance to score goal number one by presenting McGhee with his signed shirt. Who says Premiership stars are all overpaid prima donnas?

Once the disappointment dissipates after coming so close to condemning Tottenham's millionaires to the dubious delights of Withdean, Butters and his team-mates will reflect with pride on their performance.

They matched Spurs blow for blow and, aside from a couple of 50-yard beauties from the talented Michael Carrick in the first half, pass for pass as well.

That meant as much to McGhee as the gift from Keane. He knew on the coach journey home from Cardiff after the play-off final that Albion would have to shift from last season's direct style to more of a passing game to avoid going straight back down.

"I'm very pleased with the way we played," McGhee said. "Everyone knows how we played last year. It's the same players but you wouldn't recognise us.

"We have emerged with a style and way of playing which I believe will keep us in the Championship. Players like Charlie Oatway, who people had marked down as a destroyer, are suddenly getting the ball down and passing it."

Oatway's midfield partner Richard Carpenter has gradually been returning to form after summer knee surgery sidelined him until the end of September. His all-round performance showed he is back to his best and deserving of the new contract he has just been offered.

It was a fitting stage for Carpenter to be so influential. He has often been compared in looks at least to Tottenham's former German favourite Jurgen Klinsmann.

Carpenter was desperately unlucky not to give Albion a 15th-minute lead with a right-foot drive from 25 yards which beat Paul Robinson all ends up, only to hit the upright.

Keane was foiled by the bar 17 minutes later when he latched on to Stephen Kelly's header with a close-range lob with the outside of his left foot.

With Jermain Defoe out-of-touch on his return from knee trouble, it was left to Ledley King to provide Spurs with a flattering lead in the 39th minute.

The England centre half, installed as skipper following Jamie Redknapp's move to Southampton last week, met a cross from Swiss youngster Reto Ziegler following a short corner with a header which looped over the helpless Kuipers.

As McGhee observed: "It was just a rubbish goal. I would have hated that to be the winning goal, because it was against the run of play and it was a fluke."

Albion were deservedly level three minutes into the restart. The lively Leon Knight ran over a free-kick 20 yards out and Carpenter's low right-footer past a well-populated defensive wall nestled into the far corner.

It was, McGhee revealed, improvised rather than a well-rehearsed routine from the training ground, but England No.1 Robinson did not cover himself with glory by allowing Carpenter's second goal in five games to find the portion of the net he was supposed to be protecting.

Albion looked the likelier winners then until Keane pounced and it was unfortunate for McGhee that an injury and suspension crisis at his old club Millwall prevented the inclusion in the squad of the on-loan Mark McCammon.

"With 20 minutes to go at one each that was what we needed," McGhee lamented. "If we could have stuck Mark up there and given Harty (Gary Hart) or someone a rest then we might have won."

Carpenter, generous in defeat, said: "Fair play to them, they scored a great goal at the end, but we gave it a good go and were unfortunate to lose. I am very pleased to be offered a new contract, because it has been a frustrating season for me after the knee op.

"We have got to take belief out of this as a side and believe we can hold our own in the Championship."

That task resumes at Bramall Lane next Saturday when Albion are reunited with former captain Danny Cullip, fresh from his first goal for Sheffield United in their upset over Aston Villa.

  • ALBION (3-5-2) Kuipers; Virgo, Hinshelwood, Butters; Reid, Oatway, Carpenter, Harding, Mayo; Hart, Knight. Subs (not used): Chris May, Paul Watson, Alexis Nicolas, Nathan Jones, Dean Hammond
  • Booking: Carpenter (51) not retreating
  • Scorer: Carpenter (48)
  • SPURS (4-4-2) Robinson; Kelly, Edman, King, Gardner; Mendes, Carrick, Brown, Ziegler; Defoe, Keane. Subs: Marney for Kelly (withdrawn 72 mins), Yeates for Mendes (withdrawn 77 mins). Subs not used: Pamarot, Ifil, Fulop
  • Booking: Edman (63) kicking ball away
  • Scorers: King (39), Keane (83)
  • Half-Time: Spurs 1 Albion 0
  • Attendance: 36,094
  • Fans' View: VIC HAMMOND (Burgess Hill) It's the best game I've seen for ages - the atmosphere, the whole thing. We tried to outplay them, which I wasn't expecting, and we were superb in all areas of the pitch. Chippy (Richard Carpenter) was our best player, Leon Knight was just a livewire all afternoon and the Albion supporters were brilliant.

RICHARD HAMMOND (Lewes) It was worth every penny of the extortionate ticket price because it was the best Brighton performance for a couple of seasons. We matched them man for man and the only difference between the teams was a great turn and strike by Robbie Keane.

TODD HAMMOND (aged 12, Ringmer) Leon Knight was speedy and always looking for the ball and Guy Butters controlled the defence very well. I thought the ground was all right - about the same as West Ham but not as good as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. It was amazing compared to Withdean, though, and we need a new ground.

SARAH YOUNG (Hove) Quite a few Albion fans missed our equaliser just after half-time because the toilets apparently made Withdean's look adequate. Everyone can be very proud of the team. Hopefully this sort of form can spill over into our League performances, allowing us to build on the run of eight points from four games.

SIMON FRY (Cuckfield) We matched them and were good value for a draw. I can't single out any player as our man of the match because it was a great all-round team effort. I thought we would get a bit of a hammering to be honest, but I was really surprised by the level of quality we produced. I'm proud of the lads.

LIZ JENKINS (Spurs fan) Brighton deserved a replay but a flash of Premiership class by Robbie Keane made the difference.

KEVIN WRIGHT (Spurs fan) Hinshelwood and Virgo were probably their (Albion's) best players and Butters did well too. I know the year doesn't end in a one but it would be nice if we could do something in this competition.