Five-star Defoe helps Spurs put 9 past Wigan

LONDON: Jermain Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Wigan Athletic 9-1 at White Hart Lane on Sunday, a record victory for the hosts in the top-flight.

After Peter Crouch had given Spurs a ninth-minute lead, Defoe took over with three strikes between the 51st and 58th minutes as Spurs went on to tie Manchester United's Premier League record nine goals in a 9-0 victory over Ipswich in March 1995.

Aaron Lennon scored Spurs fifth, Defoe netted again in the 69th and 87th. Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland scored an own goal and Niko Kranjcar added another in the final minute.