Five-star Defoe runs riot as rampant Spurs smash nine
TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe revealed a last-minute change of boots helped him smash five second-half goals in an utter demolition of sorry Wigan.
Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, a Chris Kirkland own goal and Niko Kranjcar all contributed to Spurs’ biggest ever top-flight victory. But Defoe stole the show after the interval, netting his hat-trick in seven minutes and becoming only the third player in Premier League history to score five in one game.
The result lifted Harry Redknapp’s men level on points with third-placed Arsenal and constituted Wigan’s worst ever league defeat.
It also saw Defoe take his tally for the season to 15 and go top of the scoring charts, despite some outstanding saves from Latics goalkeeper Kirkland. But the England forward admitted afterwards his magnificent haul might never have been had he not changed his footwear. “I had a funny feeling before the game,” he said. “Adidas gave me a pair of green boots and I tried them on before the game, but Spurs coach Clive Allen said I couldn’t wear them, so I changed. They were pinkish silver ones in the end, and I go and score five.”
Defoe’s performance prompted Redknapp to back him to stay top of the scoring charts, and the Spurs boss added: “He’s been so sharp in training. You could see this coming.”
Crestfallen Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admitted he had “never experienced this before” but backed his team to respond. “From the mental point of view, we’ll get stronger from this,” he said.
Crouch started the rout in the ninth minute when he nodded home the outstanding Lennon’s teasing cross, but Wigan held firm until half-time. After the break, however, they collapsed spectacularly and before the hour Defoe had his treble. On 51 minutes he stabbed home another Lennon centre, he fired home low three minutes later and, after Paul Scharner had given the visitors’ some misplaced hope, he tucked another.
Lennon struck next before Defoe notched twice again. Lennon’s replacement David Bentley then saw his free-kick go in via the bar and Kirkland’s back, before Kranjcar rifled the ninth in injury time.