Quick-change Defoe gives Wigan the boot
attacker hits five goals in rout as spurs surge back into the top four
Published:
Tottenham9
Wigan1
TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe revealed how he made a change of boots before his scoring frenzy against Wigan as Spurs surged back into the English Premier League top four yesterday.
Spurs development coach Clive Allen, himself a prolific striker in his playing days, told Defoe to change his green boots and the result was five goals in the 9-1 demolition at White Hart Lane.
It was Spurs’ biggest victory for 32 years, since they defeated Bristol Rovers, and their biggest in the Premier League.
“I had a funny feeling before the game,” Defoe said. “Adidas gave me a pair of green boots and I tried them on before the game, but Clive Allen said I couldn’t wear them so I changed them.
“They were pinkish silver ones in the end and I go and score five.”
Peter Crouch’s early strike gave Harry Redknapp’s men a half-time lead, with nothing at that stage suggesting Spurs would almost hit double figures. Robbie Keane, who was rested following his World Cup efforts for Republic of Ireland last week, told his team-mates in the dressing-room at half-time that they needed a second goal to kill Wigan off.
Defoe, when asked if they needed the ninth goal, joked: “Maybe a 10th.”
Aaron Lennon and Niko Kranjcar also netted, while David Bentley’s free kick went in off Chris Kirkland, who made a string of fine saves despite the scoreline.
Redknapp believes Defoe can finish top goalscorer in the league and cement himself in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad with England.
“I don’t see why Defoe can’t be the top scorer in the Premier League this season,” the Spurs boss said.
“It’s about time he scored 20 goals in a season. I don’t know whether he’s done it before, maybe with West Ham, but he should be able to do that. He’s been so sharp in training.”
Defoe recently came back from a three-match suspension for violent conduct after getting sent off against Portsmouth – with Spurs losing two of the games he missed.
“The England manager will have watched him and he can’t react that way,” Redknapp added about his striker, who joined Ted Harper, Alf Stokes and Les Allen as Spurs players to have scored five times in a match.
