CHARLTON striker Shaun Bartlett experienced how quickly highs can turn to lows in football during a dramatic afternoon at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Bartlett was the hero of the first-half when he struck a brace to put his side in front during the 3-2 win over Tottenham. But he left his team-mates with an uphill struggle for the final 20 minutes when he saw red after making a diving save to keep a Reto Ziegler shot out of the net.

"It was pretty much instinct," said the South African international. "As the ball went past my head, my hand just went up and I knew it going to be a red card as soon as it touched."

On the plus side, Bartlett's goals were both well-taken and opened his account for the season. It was the first time he had got on the scoresheet since netting the winner against Liverpool at Anfield on Easter Monday.

Bartlett said: "It was one of those situations where strikers love getting on the end of good crosses into the box. It was then pretty simple for me just to put the ball in the net. The first one was a good cross from Jerome Thomas and I just had to make sure I stayed onside.

"I got a touch on the ball and I think what beat Paul Robinson was that I shot first time. The second goal was a good team build-up and a great cross from Luke Young."

Bartlett, in the final year of his contract and looking to secure a new deal, has endured a frustrating opening few months of the campaign.

The 32-year-old suffered an ankle problem in the second game of the season against Portsmouth and didn't return to the fold until the 1-1 draw against Newcastle at The Valley three weeks ago. But he has now started the last four games, operating as a lone striker in his latest outing.

He said: "No footballer wants to be on the sidelines and watch the team play. If the team is not doing well then you feel disappointed because you wish you could have been out there with the lads."

Charlton had only taken a point away from home all season, from a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, and Saturday's result was much-needed after a dismal October.

Bartlett said: "We haven't been playing that badly, but we just haven't been getting results. We decided we needed to be a bit stronger defensively and against Spurs we were awesome. We tried to make sure we didn't concede any silly goals and take any chances that we got at the other end.

"Things don't just happen overnight when you bring in new players. They have been taking a bit of time to settle, but they know what Charlton are all about. Hopefully, we can continue for now and, with our next game being at home to Norwich, beating Spurs was a big confidence boost for us."

Meanwhile, Charlton have beaten off interest from a number of Premiership and European clubs to sign 6ft 2in Finnish Under-16 international Jani Tanska after striking a four-year collaboration agreement with Finnish Cup winners MyPa.