AVB heaps praise on in-form Defoe

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hailed Jermain Defoe after the striker bagged a brace against Reading to help the Portuguese to his first win in charge.

Villas-Boas went in to the game under pressure having failed to deliver a victory in his first three contests, but the 34-year-old left the Madejski with a broad smile after watching his team claim an easy 3-1 triumph.

"I'm extremely happy for him," Villas-Boas said. "He is such a prolific striker for club and country. It's amazing how he sniffs out goal-scoring opportunities and makes the most of them."

The architect of the victory was Defoe. The 29-year-old converted an Aaron Lennon cross to put Spurs ahead and added another in the second half after Gareth Bale had made it 2-0.

Defoe's future at White Hart Lane had been in doubt this summer after the club scoured the planet for a new striker, but the former West Ham man has now scored five goals for club and country so far this term.

Villas-Boas added: "I know there were questions being raised about him being played up front on his own. On his own or with Emmanuel Adebayor alongside him, I think Jermain can continue to produce these kind of attacking opportunities.

"He has confidence as a striker and we are very grateful we can use this confidence at this moment."

Reading are still looking for their first win and may be in for a long season if this match is anything to go by. Spurs goalkeeper Brad Friedel remained a spectator throughout the contest, with his only action of note coming in the last minute when he picked Hal Robson-Kanu's consolation out of his net.

Royals manager Brian McDermott conceded his side had been second-best throughout, and he said: "The second goal killed us really. We came up against a top-class side and they played well. They deserved to win.

"We have to move on very, very quickly - you have to do that in this league. It's a learning curve for all of us. We know we're playing against a team of world-class individuals, and they have played well and we didn't cause them enough problems."