Tottenham Hotspur have earned their first win of the 2011/12 Premier League season with an emphatic 3-1 victory against newly-promoted Reading. Coming off a loss to Newcastle and two disappointing draws, Andre Villas-Boas desperately needed the three points in order to fend off increasing media pressure, and he got them in style. Jermain Defoe got Spurs started, latching onto a cutback from Aaron Lennon to fire past debutant Alex McCarthy in the 18th minute.
Reading Vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Final Score 3-1, Spurs Run Riot
The pressure didn't stop there. Gylfi Sigurdsson had a shot cleared off the line after bizarre goalkeeping from McCarthy allowed Defoe free reign of the penalty box, and Reading were in serious risk of being well and truly overrun. Second half adjustments helped momentarily, but the hosts were put in an impossible hole when Gareth Bale scuffed home from eight yards, and Defoe added a third with a deft finish past poor McCarthy to make it 3-0.
Spurs have been prone to conceding late goals, however, and that bugbear bit them once more when Hal Robson-Kanu grabbed a consolation strike just before stoppage time. Scoring twice more in four minutes proved far too big an ask, however, and in truth the final margin of victory should have been higher.
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