ADDICKS boss Alan Curbishley must have thought all his dreams had come true as he watched winger Jerome Thomas score to put Charlton Athletic 3-0 ahead against Spurs on Saturday.

Without an away win all season, and with just one victory on their travels since January, the deflected effort past England goalkeeper Paul Robinson saw the Addicks cruising against managerless Spurs.

But it would not be Charlton without a scare or two and a deliberate handball from two-goal striker Shaun Bartlett led to his dismissal and a successful Robbie Keane penalty, before ex-Addick Jermain Defoe made it 3-2.

The visitors were clinging on at the end, but that did not matter to a delighted Curbishley at the final whistle.

"We deserved the win," he said. "It was a pressure game for both teams due to our away form and Tottenham's recent problems, not to mention the fact Jacques Santini had left the night before. I couldn't have asked for more from my players in the first hour. But to find ourselves three-up up away from home was incredible and frankly we've been awful away this season."

Fielding a 4-5-1 formation with Thomas and Jonatan Johansson keen to advance down the flanks, Charlton had the better of the first half, although the 2-0 scoreline at the break was perhaps slightly flattering.

Thomas had only previously made three appearances for the first team, but has taken the chance offered him in the Carling Cup and it was his cross from the left wing that Bartlett diverted into the net after 17 minutes.

The South African did not connect perfectly with his left-footed volley, but it was enough and he more than made sure six minutes before half-time.

On this occasion, Luke Young was the provider from the opposite flank, following a great move involving Johansson and Radostin Kishishev, and his pin-point cross found Bartlett diving full-length to head home.

Things got even better shortly after the interval when Thomas exchanged passes with Bartlett and surged into the box, his shot eventually catching Ledley King's heel and entering the net past the helpless Robinson.

"We'll be giving the goal to Jerome I hope no one takes it away," said Curbishley, appreciative of the efforts of the 21-year-old he brought in from Arsenal ten months ago.

"He's got a lot of things in his locker he's a good passer and a good crosser, which I think Bartlett appreciated.

"I told him at half-time not to be satisfied with what he'd done. He has to take people on in the final third, and I think we saw a lot of that at Tottenham."

Despite the score, it was far from one-way traffic and Bartlett's sending off, for handling Reto Ziegler's goalbound shot, allowed Keane to reduce the deficit and then a poor pass from Matt Holland gave Defoe his opportunity.

Freddie Kanoute also hit the post, but stubborn defending ensured the one-goal lead remained at full-time.

The same defiant stubbornness was evident in Curbishley's post-match press conference when he was asked if he was interested in taking on Spurs' managerial hot-seat. "I signed a new contract last Christmas and I have got two-and-a-half years left," he said. "I have been involved in speculation and it's never led to anything."