DEFOE HITS FIVE AS SUPER SPURS SLAM IN NINE

SUPER Spurs walloped Wigan 9-1 in an astonishing game at White Hart Lane - equalling Manchester United's Premier League record for the most goals scored in a game.

For those who doubt England's credentials to win the World Cup, Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon shone and both got on the scoresheet while five-goal Jermain Defoe obviously stole the show.

Even Paul Scharner's best Thierry Henry impression could not dampen the spirits in North London as an own goal by Chris Kirkland and Niko Kranjcar's strike enabled Harry Redknapp's side to go level on points with rivals Arsenal in some style.

Lennon's return from injury added fresh impetus to the Spurs attack and he crossed for Crouch to go close early on.

The giant striker headed off target from a Wilson Palacios centre before making it a case of third time lucky with the opener in the ninth minute.

Ex-Wigan star Palacios played in Lennon and an inviting cross from the right was finished off nicely by Crouch at the far post.

Spurs tried to turn the screw with Lennon forcing a fine stop out of Chris Kirkland after Emmerson Boyce cleared a Jermain Defoe effort off the line.

KIrkland was also worked by Palacios and the one-way traffic was only ended temporarily when Mohamed Diame mustered a volley at the other end.

Tom Huddlestone, who played for England last week, whistled one drive just wide before Wigan finally sparked into some life. Heurelho Gomes had to be alert to keep out Jason Scotland and Charles N'Zogbia tried his luck with a free-kick.

But Tottenham always carried the greater threat and only a combination of Kirkland's fingertips and the bar denied Defoe following a fine pass by Nico Kranjcar.

YES: Crouch got the ball rolling in the first half

The England striker did not have to wait long in the second half to get on the scoresheet. He flew through the air to slam home another Lennon cross and then added another three minutes later by calmly pouncing on a mistake by Boyce.

Scharner used his hand to control a Hugo Rodallega cross before blasting past Gomes but the three-goal deficit was restored within a matter of seconds as deadly Defoe made it a seven-minute hat-trick by volleying in another Lennon cross.

Lennon deservedly got in on the act himself when producing a quality finish after Crouch worked the ball to him well as Wigan found themselves on the end of a real hammering.

The inconsistent Latics conceded a sixth when Defoe took his personal tally to four by profiting from a pass by Vedran Corluka. Number five for the former West Ham and Portsmouth striker soon arrived when he made ex-Spur Erik Edman pay for a mistake by shooting through Kirkland's legs.

David Bentley's free-kick led to number eight with it hitting the bar and Kirkland and going down as an own goal against the Wigan keeper.

There was still time for Kranjcar to make it 9-1 with his sweeping shot beating Kirkland and finding the net via the woodwork.

Wigan were hopelessly outclassed and it got embarrassing the end - you sense Spurs are really going places under Harry Redknapp.

"Their keeper made some great saves as well," commented Redknapp afterwards.

"Lennon is a fantastic talent, anybody would have had a hard day with him in that sort of form. He deserved that goal at the end.

"For Jermain to get five goals was an outstanding performance.

"Yesterday in training he looked so sharp and I felt if he could carry that into the game he would be a real handful.

"You don't get too many nines in the Premier League, it's a bad day for Roberto Martinez but he'll come back even stronger and I'm sure next week he'll take it out on someone else."

Sunderland, fresh from a fine win over Arsenal which make this a weekend to remember for Spurs fans, are up next for Wigan.

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