Despite the opponent being just a newly-promoted side, Tottenham fans will be buzzing after a thorough performance by their side in the season’s home-opener.
Mauricio Pochettino’s debut at White Hart Lane was a powerful one, as Spurs comprehensively overwhelmed Queens Park Rangers with a 4-0 win.
Belgian winter Nacer Chadli picked up a brace, and defender Eric Dier bagged his second goal in two games as Spurs collected three points in much more attractive fashion than last weekend.
It started from the get-go, and the home side put on a number of incisive counter-attacks.
Naleb Bentaleb was at the heart of a few, and paired with Erik Lamela to get Emmanuel Adebayor a free header in the opening 10 minutes.
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The first goal came just minutes later, when Bentaleb sprung Adebayor down the left flank, and the striker lofted a beautiful ball over the center backs for Chadli on a tight angle. Chadli took on QPR goalkeeper Robert Green by himself, and found the back of the net one-on-one.
QPR had an opportunity to draw level, as a long ball from deep in their own half found Matt Phillips bursting forward behind the Spurs defense. Phillips cut back well but he scooped the shot over the bar. It would be the last time QPR would have a sniff at goal all half, as Spurs poured it on.
The onslaught began in the 24th minute, as set-piece threat Christian Eriksen cannoned a spectacular free-kick off the underside of the bar, but it rocketed off the woodwork and did not cross the line, and the chance disappeared with no follow-up.
Spurs got a second quite surprisingly after , as defender Eric Dier picked up his second goal of the season with a powerful header off a corner on the half-hour mark. He charged up front an unsuspecting position and thundered his head against the ball.
The goal means Dier is the first defender to score in two games to open a season in Premier League history.
Chadli got his second and his team’s third thanks to fantastic build-up play from Lamela, who zig-zagged down the left flank before floating the ball across the box to Chadli lurking at the far post. Already with a goal to his name, the Belgian crashed his header into the back of the net.
Spurs kept pushing, hardly allowing QPR a touch all the way to the halftime break. The second 45 saw much more possession for the visitors with Spurs sitting back, but it still led to few chances.
Spurs chose to play on the counter with Lamela the main man, and again looked much more incisive against an undisciplined high line.
The home side added to their flood when Emmanuel Adebayor cooly finished a one-time feed from Danny Rose after the hour mark, and QPR will have plenty of man-marking work to do in training this week.
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There was little else in the match, as Spurs decided they were happy with their haul. The points send Spurs home still with the maximum total after two matches, and their margin of victory sends them top of the table on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Redknapp and QPR still have nothing to show for their time in the Premier League so far, and haven’t looked very good doing so.
LINEUPS:
Tottenham: Lloris; Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Bentaleb (Dembele 59′), Capoue; Chadli (Kane 69′), Eriksen, Lamela; Adebayor (Soldado 80′).
Goals: Chadli 12, 37; Dier 30, Adebayor 65′
QPR: Green; Caulker, Ferdinand, Dunne (Onuoha 46′); Traore, Mutch, Isla, Barton, Fer (Faurlin 68′); Phillips (Zamora 74′), Remy.
