Defoe fires winner as Spurs remain unbeaten

Tottenham 1 Birmingham 0

Jermain Defoe issued England boss Seven-Goran Eriksson with a timely reminder of his enormous potential ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers with a stunning strike at White Hart Lane.

Eriksson names his squad for the clashes with Austria and Poland tomorrow night and will find it impossible to refuse Defoe a role given the 21-year-old’s blistering start to the season which was capped by today’s 35th-minute match-winner.

The Tottenham striker took Noe Pamarot’s pass before setting off on a mazy run, beating three players and unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom right corner of the net which gave Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor no chance.

Spurs boss Jacques Santini had intended to rest Defoe for this afternoon’s match, declaring the player’s workload of four appearances in less than two weeks had left him tired.

But there was little evidence of fatigue as Defoe gave a lively performance which underlined his reputation as one of the most exciting talents in the Barclays Premiership and was only marred by an undeserved booking.

It was lucky that Defoe was given the nod by Santini because a near sell-out crowd at N17 endured a dismal first half which finally spluttered into life with a goal which brought the ground to its feet.

Neither side were in creative mood until after the interval when the game opened up with half chances coming at both ends, the best of which fell to Birmingham’s £6.25million summer signing Emile Heskey.

Heskey started after overcoming an ankle injury but this was a match which he will want to forget as quickly as possible thanks to a hesitant display that will have done little to impress Eriksson.

Birmingham proved a handful in the dying moments when they poured forward in search of the equaliser but their attacking moves lacked imagination and consisted entirely of crossing to their big men at the far post.

Steve Bruce’s men enjoyed a lively start too, winning two corners and a free-kick within the first three minutes but they made little impression thanks to some resolute defending from Spurs.

The match had started at a fearsome pace but there were plenty of mistakes coming from both sides as play switched from end to end.

Michael Brown had a shot from just outside the area cleared away in what proved to be the only attempt at goal in the first 15 minutes before a Spurs corner was gathered up by Taylor.

Manuel Pedro Mendes tried his luck from 50 yards out but his strike lacked power and the ball fell into the arms of Taylor while another long-range effort from the Portugal midfielder shortly after was well wide.

A surging run from left-back Julian Gray looked promising but Mikael Forssell could not control his final cross before a dangerous ball from Johnnie Jackson at the other end was wasted as no Spurs player had made a run into the box.

Robbie Keane flashed inches wide from 25 yards and Forsell had a shot from six yards out blocked by Noureddine Naybet but these were rare moments in what turned out to be a dire opening 30 minutes with neither team able to build any momentum.

Stephen Clemence typified the half when a neat piece of trickery saw him ghost into space only to waste his good work with a dreadful pass into the left channel of the area with the nearest Spurs player some 10 yards away.

It was lucky then that Defoe was on hand to light up the game with his magical solo effort which saw him ease between Muzzy Izzet and Matthew Upson who were the last line of defence before firing past Taylor.

The 21-year-old looked like repeating his heroics moments later with another silky run only to bundled off the ball in a challenge which left him on the floor. Remarkably referee Mark Clattenburg chose to book the youngster.

Defoe found himself in space in the 55th minute but he was well marshalled by Upson and when play switched to the other end Forssell smashed over from a tight angle.

The former West Ham forward combined with Keane – who was making his first start of the season after recovering from ankle ligament damage – and the Irishman’s ensuing shot was blocked by Mario Melchiot.

Forssell was almost put through at the other end in 60th minute and the second half had already put the opening 45 minutes to shame in terms of entertainment - save for Defoe’s goal of course.

Keane was taken off in the 65th minute and replaced by Frederic Kanoute with Spurs looking capable of adding a second as they launched a series of quickfire raids into Birmingham’s half.

But there were a few nervous moments in the Spurs goalmouth when an Izzet corner was met by Heskey at the far post only for the England international’s header to be cleared off the line by Brown.

Heskey spooned a shot high over the bar when he should have done far better before Jackson went desperately close to meeting Brown’s pinpoint cross from the right flank.

Birmingham fans were incensed when Heskey was booked for diving in the 85th minute with his side threatening to equalise and the hapless former Liverpool hitman endured further misery by nodding over with a point there for the taking.

End