Source: Telegraph
Tottenham Hotspur 9 Wigan Athletic 1: match report
Tottenham Hotspur returned to the top four in the Premier League with a remarkable victory, thanks to five goals in 36 minute second half minutes from Jermain Defoe. It equalled the all-trime record win in the Premier League. [LNB]It also produced the second fastest hat-trick in Premier League history and handed Wigan Athletic their heaviest ever League defeat. [LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League actionPremier League tablePremier League fixturesTelegraph player raterSport on televisionPeter Crouch gave Spurs an early lead and two goals in four early second half minutes from Defoe confirmed the win, before Aaron Lennon added the fifth and Defoe claimed his fourth in the 69th minute and a fifth in 87 minutes, before David Bentley (via Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland) and Niko Kranjcar completed this remarkable rout. [LNB]But before Defoe's third goal, Wigan claimed a controversial effort when Paul Scharner clearly handled Thierry Henry-style, but the goal stood. [LNB]Harry Redknapp decided to start with Robbie Keane on the bench following the striker's disappointment of missing out on the World Cup finals with Ireland. [LNB]Wigan were able to include Hendry Thomas, who arrived back late from Honduras after missing his flight. [LNB]His inclusion was welcomed with Wigan attempting to arrest a poor record in London, with the club without a win in 17 League and Cup visits going back to December 2006 when they won 2-0 at West Ham. [LNB]But the portents were not good for Wigan from the outset with Spurs threatening twice before taking a ninth minute lead. [LNB]Inside the first minute, Lennon, outstanding on the right flank, crossed for Crouch who flicked the ball wide. [LNB]Wilson Palacios's cross offered Crouch another chance he squandered, but the goal soon came and again Lennon was involved. [LNB]His cross bounced awkwardly in the Wigan area in front of Wigan defender Titus Bramble, and Crouch was allowed to stoop to head beyond Kirkland. [LNB]Soon afterwards Kirkland made an impress save from Lennon, and then the goalkeeper had to stretch to push the ball to safety under the head of Crouch, from Kranjcar's left-wing delivery. [LNB]Wigan finally responded, after 17 minutes, when Mohamed Diamé's dipping volley took a deflection off Palacios for a corner. Palacios responded at the opposite end, his half volley saved well again from Kirkland, who then denied Tom Huddlestone. [LNB]Towards the end of the first half Wigan offered more resolve and Scotland was denied, in the 31st minute, by Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. [LNB]But 1-0 almost became 2-0 when Defoe's speculative 34th minute effort from the left bounced off the cross bar. But four minutes later Wigan responded when Charles N'Zogbia's chip scraped the top of the Spurs cross bar. [LNB]And the last action in the first half saw Kirkland produce another fine save, tipping Defoe's clever effort just over. [LNB]And within minutes of the restart Defoe went close again, his header dropping onto the top netting. [LNB]And by the 51st minute, Spurs went further ahead when Lennon crossed and Defoe beat Bramble to half volley in to the roof of the net. [LNB]And within three minutes Spurs score again. Palacios's ball from inside his own half sent Defoe chasing and after Boyce and Erik Edman failed to clear, Defoe scored from a difficult angle on the right. [LNB]When Scharner responded for Wigan, controlling Hugo Rodallega's cross with his right forearm, the crowd sang 'Are you Henry is disguise?'[LNB]But within a minute Spurs restored their three-goal advantage, with Defoe converting another Lennon cross for his second hat-trick of the season. Lennon got the goal he deserved, finding the bottom corner in the 64th minute. [LNB]And then Defoe claimed his fourth and Spurs' sixth in the 69th minute, with his fifth and Spurs' seventh in 87 minutes. Kirkland's own goal and Kranjcar (90) completed the rout. [LNB]
