There was a time when the FA Cup held a special magic for everyone who hoped for a Goliath slaying. Nowadays, even Harry Redknapp, manager of Spurs who has a long tradition of FA Cup success, feels that a top 4 finish in the Premier League would be a greater achievement.

Redknapp at least showed the FA Cup some respect by fielding a reasonably strong team. He was forced to leave out Lennon and Assou-Ekotto through injury but the Posh team must have been disappointed to see 11 internationals in lilywhite.

However, it was one budding international at the other end who was the story of the first half. Joe Lewis, the Peterborough keeper had been an England U-21 regular and was included in an England senior team some time ago, was the standout player. He somehow managed to get a finger on Kranjcar’s piledriver to turn it onto the crossbar. This was after Defoe had smashed his point blank effort straight onto the crossbar with Lewis well-beaten.

The breakthrough finally came and it was that man of the moment, Nico Kranjcar who curled a delicious shot around the outstretched arms of Lewis. Nico made the game safe for Spurs when he got on the end of an inviting cross from the impressive Gareth Bale. Defoe and Keane finished off a comfortable afternoon for Spurs with two more goals.

So it was an easy win against admittedly very weak opposition. However, questions about this Spurs team still remain. In the absence of Lennon’s searing pace, and with Modric still struggling to regain his pre-injury form, the team was forced to rely on Kranjcar for creativity. Bale and Hutton did well offensively as full-backs but their suspect defensive abilities were never stretched by Posh’s non-existent wingers.

But it is another win, another clean sheet. Next, Liverpool at Anfield in a six-pointer in the race for a top 4 place.