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Defoe hands AVB first Spurs win
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2012, Tuesday
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JERMAIN Defoe capped a superb individual display with two well-taken goals in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Reading on Sunday, earning manager Andre Villas-Boas a relieving first Premier League victory at the club.
The England striker was again preferred up front to Emmanuel Adebayor and justified the faith shown in him by Villas-Boas by opening the scoring in 18th minute and completing a convincing win with a fine solo effort in the 74th. Left winger Gareth Bale scored Spurs' other goal, a scuffed finish in the 71st following good work by Kyle Walker down the right, but it was Defoe who will take all the plaudits after destroying Reading's defense.
"Jermain is showing his abilities, the amount of shots he has on target is amazing," Villas-Boas said. "As the lone striker up front, he is linking well with the colleagues."
A first win of the season at the fourth time of asking lifts Spurs into mid-table and eases the pressure on Villas-Boas as the young Portuguese bids to restore his reputation at the London club following his disastrous eight-month spell at Chelsea.
Ruining clean sheet
The only negative for Spurs was the injury-time goal conceded to Hal Robson-Kanu, ruining the clean sheet of veteran Brad Friedel after the American goalkeeper again started ahead of new signing Hugo Lloris.
But Villas-Boas would otherwise have been delighted with Tottenham's fluidity in midfield which had Reading chasing shadows for much of the game. There was time, too, to give Clint Dempsey a late run-out as substitute for the United States forward's first appearance since signing from Fulham on deadline day.
"It was a well-deserved win," Villas-Boas said. "Everyone performed to their top level and it is a win that will lift us up for the season.
"The most important thing today was the motivation of the players to change the negative results at home."
Reading was also looking to claim a first win of the season after opening with a draw and a loss in its first campaign back in the top flight. But the hosts were up against it from the moment Defoe connected with a cutback from Aaron Lennon to sweep a well-placed finish into the bottom corner.
Defoe missed other good chances either side of the break and also set up Gylfi Sigurdsson for a gilt-edged opportunity that the Iceland midfielder saw cleared off the line.
The England striker was again preferred up front to Emmanuel Adebayor and justified the faith shown in him by Villas-Boas by opening the scoring in 18th minute and completing a convincing win with a fine solo effort in the 74th. Left winger Gareth Bale scored Spurs' other goal, a scuffed finish in the 71st following good work by Kyle Walker down the right, but it was Defoe who will take all the plaudits after destroying Reading's defense.
"Jermain is showing his abilities, the amount of shots he has on target is amazing," Villas-Boas said. "As the lone striker up front, he is linking well with the colleagues."
A first win of the season at the fourth time of asking lifts Spurs into mid-table and eases the pressure on Villas-Boas as the young Portuguese bids to restore his reputation at the London club following his disastrous eight-month spell at Chelsea.
Ruining clean sheet
The only negative for Spurs was the injury-time goal conceded to Hal Robson-Kanu, ruining the clean sheet of veteran Brad Friedel after the American goalkeeper again started ahead of new signing Hugo Lloris.
But Villas-Boas would otherwise have been delighted with Tottenham's fluidity in midfield which had Reading chasing shadows for much of the game. There was time, too, to give Clint Dempsey a late run-out as substitute for the United States forward's first appearance since signing from Fulham on deadline day.
"It was a well-deserved win," Villas-Boas said. "Everyone performed to their top level and it is a win that will lift us up for the season.
"The most important thing today was the motivation of the players to change the negative results at home."
Reading was also looking to claim a first win of the season after opening with a draw and a loss in its first campaign back in the top flight. But the hosts were up against it from the moment Defoe connected with a cutback from Aaron Lennon to sweep a well-placed finish into the bottom corner.
Defoe missed other good chances either side of the break and also set up Gylfi Sigurdsson for a gilt-edged opportunity that the Iceland midfielder saw cleared off the line.
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