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LONDON: Jermain Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Wigan Athletic 9-1 in one of the most lopsided Premier League results at White Hart Lane on Sunday which was a record victory for the hosts in the top-flight.
Spurs were only 1-0 up at the break, thanks to a goal by Peter Crouch before fellow England striker Defoe ran riot after half-time with Aaron Lennon, an own-goal by Chris Kirkland and Niko Kranjcar's 90th minute effort adding to the North London club's tally.
Their haul was all the more impressive as manager Harry Redknapp decided to rest striker Robbie Keane after the Republic of Ireland international's involvement in the controversial midweek World Cup playoff loss to France.
Wigan could have been forgiven for agreeing to put this match back by 24 hours following the international break as their defence took a pummelling.
Spurs went ahead in the ninth minute when Crouch headed home a cross from Lennon.
Wigan goalkeeper Kirkland then had to be alert to deny both Lennon and former Wigan favourite Wilson Palacios.
Defoe, who hit the crossbar before half-time, led a rout in the second half with a hat-trick in seven minutes.
From Lennon's cross, he got in front of Titus Bramble to shoot into the roof of the net before he slotted home at the far post after the Wigan defence failed to cut out Palacios' centre.
Paul Scharner then pulled one back for Wigan although the Austrian midfielder clearly used his hand to control the ball before shooting past Heurelho Gomes.
Tottenham protested to referee Peter Walton but barely a minute later Defoe had his hat-trick as Spurs' three-goal lead was restored when he volleyed in Lennon's cross.
Lennon himself added a fifth after Crouch did well to find the winger in a congested penalty area.
Defoe grabbed his fourth 21 minutes from time by scoring off the post after latching on to Vedran Corluka's through ball and had a fifth late on when he shot through Kirkland's legs.
David Bentley's free-kick then appeared to hit both the bar and Kirkland before going in and, in the closing seconds, Kranjcar's shot went in off the woodwork. - AFP/de
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