Defoe fires Spurs to summit

LONDON – Jermain Defoe buried his midweek Copenhagen misery to help fire Tottenham to a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday and top spot in the English Premiership.

Spurs have a perfect six points from two matches and lead the way on goal difference with Charlton in second spot after seeing off Wigan 1-0 while Manchester United, who also have six points, are third after edging Aston Villa 1-0. Defoe, taken off at half-time in England’s 4-1 hammering at the hands of Denmark in midweek, lashed home a long-range effort four minutes into the second half to set Spurs on their way at White Hart Lane.Hot-shot Ruud van Nistlerooy fired Manchester United into a share of the lead with a typical predator’s effort as the Red Devils beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Old Trafford.Van Nistelrooy was on hand to tap home a simple chance after Christiano Ronaldo’s cross had spooned up off Olof Mellberg’s head to deceive goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.Darren Bent continued his and Charlton’s flying start to the season, scoring his third goal of the campaign as the Addicks beat Wigan at The Valley to go second.Liverpool are in sixth place, just two points behind the leaders, after a 1-0 win over 10-man Sunderland who had Andrew Welsh sent off in the second half.Xabi Alonso curled home a 25-yard free-kick on 24 minutes after Carl Robinson had brought down Boudewijn Zenden as Liverpool’s domination finally told.Captain and talisman Steven Gerrard was substituted just 10 minutes into the second half with a slight calf injury and the England man will miss tomorrow’s Champions League tie against CSKA Sofia.Graeme Souness bemoaned his lack of striking options after watching his Newcastle team held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man West Ham.Blackburn have their first win of the season after a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Ewood Park.Geoff Horsfield scored twice as West Brom beat Portsmouth 2-1 at the Hawthorns with Laurent Robert grabbing a consolation for the visitors.In the day’s late game, Manchester City came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1 thanks to a wonder strike from Andrew Cole.Nicky Butt opened the scoring for the home side on seven minutes before Joey Barton equalised on 20 minutes and Cole’s goal two minutes into the second half moved the visitors up to fifth in the table.-Nampa-AFPDefoe, taken off at half-time in England’s 4-1 hammering at the hands of Denmark in midweek, lashed home a long-range effort four minutes into the second half to set Spurs on their way at White Hart Lane.Hot-shot Ruud van Nistlerooy fired Manchester United into a share of the lead with a typical predator’s effort as the Red Devils beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Old Trafford.Van Nistelrooy was on hand to tap home a simple chance after Christiano Ronaldo’s cross had spooned up off Olof Mellberg’s head to deceive goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.Darren Bent continued his and Charlton’s flying start to the season, scoring his third goal of the campaign as the Addicks beat Wigan at The Valley to go second.Liverpool are in sixth place, just two points behind the leaders, after a 1-0 win over 10-man Sunderland who had Andrew Welsh sent off in the second half.Xabi Alonso curled home a 25-yard free-kick on 24 minutes after Carl Robinson had brought down Boudewijn Zenden as Liverpool’s domination finally told.Captain and talisman Steven Gerrard was substituted just 10 minutes into the second half with a slight calf injury and the England man will miss tomorrow’s Champions League tie against CSKA Sofia.Graeme Souness bemoaned his lack of striking options after watching his Newcastle team held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man West Ham.Blackburn have their first win of the season after a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Ewood Park.Geoff Horsfield scored twice as West Brom beat Portsmouth 2-1 at the Hawthorns with Laurent Robert grabbing a consolation for the visitors.In the day’s late game, Manchester City came from behind to beat Birmingham 2-1 thanks to a wonder strike from Andrew Cole.Nicky Butt opened the scoring for the home side on seven minutes before Joey Barton equalised on 20 minutes and Cole’s goal two minutes into the second half moved the visitors up to fifth in the table.-Nampa-AFP