By Sam Lyon

Defoe celebrates his crucial second just before half time at the KC Stadium

Jermain Defoe was at his clinical best as Tottenham made it two wins from two by routing Hull City at the KC Stadium.

The striker gave Spurs a deserved lead with a neat turn and shot, before Wilson Palacios strode through to smash in his first goal in English football.

Stephen Hunt's free-kick drifted in to give Hull a lifeline, but Defoe strolled through to fire home and restore the visitors' two-goal cushion.

Robbie Keane's header made it four and Defoe then slammed in a hat-trick goal.

It is only the second time in 14 years that Tottenham have kicked off the season with two wins, and it is in stark contrast to the start they made last campaign when they went eight games without a victory.

Their victory over Liverpool on Sunday may have impressed the critics, but it is the Londoners' away form that has to improve if they are to make an impression further up the league this season.

And even if Hull, without a win at the KC Stadium since December, are often generous opponents at home, the nature of the win will doubtless encourage manager Harry Redknapp.

Defoe was the key in a one-sided start, the striker - fresh from two goals for England this time last week - collected Tom Huddlestone's pass for the opener, turned inside Michael Turner and powered the ball into the far corner.

He then started the move that led to the second minutes later, Palacios eventually dashing on to Keane's pass and lashing in at the near post left-footed.

It prompted a change from Hull boss Phil Brown as he attempted to stop the visitors running riot - and it paid immediate dividends.

Substitute Geovanni's all-action display, full of the passion that had eluded the hosts from the first whistle, inspired his team-mates and, not long after, they pulled a goal back when Hunt's free-kick eluded everyone and bounced into the far corner.

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Suddenly Hull looked a completely different proposition and, but for a last-gasp saving tackle from Alan Hutton, could well have drawn level as Vedran Corluka's error let in Hunt 12 yards from goal with Spurs keeper Carlo Cudicini exposed.

Caleb Folan was causing Sebastien Bassong problems with his physicality, and the likes of Luka Modric and Huddlestone no longer had the freedom of the KC to dictate matters.

And that will have made Tottenham's third goal all the more frustrating for Brown, who watched on from the sidelines aghast as Keane's flick eluded defender Turner and found Defoe strolling through the middle to score with ease.

The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, and much of the second half was dictated by Tottenham's playmakers - Modric, Huddlestone and Keane all impressing.

Hull's biggest threat always looked like coming from set-pieces, and so it proved when Geovanni latched onto Turner's flick to guide a header towards the top corner, only for Cudicini, on for the injured Heurelho Gomes, to tip it over the bar.

Still Spurs were a constant force in attack, and after Defoe had seen his goal-bound flick from Aaron Lennon's cross deflected behind by Turner's lunge, Keane grabbed a deserved first of the season.

The Irishman began and ended the counter-attack, eventually running on to Aaron Lennon's precise clipped cross to glance a header past Boaz Myhill.

It was no more than his side deserved, and all that remained to see was whether Defoe could grab his first Tottenham hat-trick.

The 26-year-old duly obliged in stoppage time, thundering home from 20 yards from Lennon's tee-up to underline the visitors' dominance.

For their part, Hull will be hoping an alarming run of form that has seen them secure only one win in 24 matches is arrested sharply - starting with Bolton at home on Saturday.

Hull City boss Phil Brown:
"I don't think, hand on heart, 5-1 flattered Tottenham tonight - they were fabulous.

"It's difficult to say to our boys to go out there and do what Spurs do because the gulf in class looks alarming. The fact is, though, that anyone who played Spurs tonight will have got a hiding, I think.

"Luckily we don't have to play Tottenham every week. Next up we have Bolton, where we'll need to dig in and respond that's for sure."

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp:
"It really was a fantastic performance from us tonight. The way we moved the ball, passed the ball, hit them with pace and skill, we were terrific.

"It was good to see Wilson Palacios score, he offers us so much, and Robbie Keane too has been great.

"But Jermain is flying at the moment. Physically he is stronger than I've ever seen him and he's absolutely unplayable right now.

"You can never tell until the season starts how you're going to get on, but against Liverpool we were terrific and tonight even better. But it's another big game next up and our focus is on that now."

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