Tottenham fans will not be talking of championships and glorious new eras on the basis of this scrappy victory over Bradford. But Glenn Hoddle's first home match in charge at least got the win that the script demanded thanks to a second-half effort from Simon Davies.

The midfielder's first Premiership goal rescued Spurs after Eoin Jess had equalised Steffen Iversen's opener. Although Bradford's Gary Walsh made four good saves, this was a far from fluent Tottenham display and it needed a low stop by Neil Sullivan to deny Ashley Ward a late header.

The manager should have been celebrating after only eight minutes when Sergei Rebrov was presented with a clear opportunity by Robert Molenaar's wayward header. The Ukrainian, though, opted to shoot instantly from the edge of the area when he could have taken more time, and Walsh pulled off a save.

That apart there was little to cheer Spurs fans in the opening quarter of an hour as Bradford enjoyed plenty of the ball and played with the passion of a side who believe they might yet survive.

Jefferies' players created little, however, as Tottenham's defence dealt with their crosses and corners. And as Spurs settled, keeping better - if hardly impeccable - possession, they took the lead.

Stephen Carr and Rebrov had threatened intermittently down the right, so it was no surprise that Tottenham's goal came from that part of the pitch, Rebrov's cross being neatly volleyed in at the far post by Iversen. Bradford, who had threatened occasionally on the counterattack, made Spurs pay a minute before half-time when Ashley Ward knocked the ball down near the edge of the box and Eoin Jess sent an impressive first-time shot beyond Neil Sullivan.

In the second half Iversen was involved in an accidental clash of heads with Myers and was taken to hospital. On 76 minutes, though, Rebrov's run and cross culminated in Davies scoring with a low left-foot shot from 15 yards.

Tottenham: Sullivan, Carr, Perry, Doherty, Young, Leonhardsen (Korsten 83), Clemence, Davies, Sherwood, Rebrov, Iversen (Thelwell 74). Subs Not Used: Walker, Gardner, Etherington. Booked: Doherty. Goals: Iversen 26, Davies 76.

Bradford: Walsh, Myers, Molenaar, Halle, Jacobs, McCall, Whalley, Blake, Carbone, Ward, Jess. Subs Not Used: Davison, Grant, Kerr, McKinlay, Emanuel. Booked: Molenaar. Goals: Jess 44.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).