Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sheffield United 0

Last updated : 22 August 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Spurs finally got three points in the bag as new signing Dimitar Berbatov showed the White Hart Lane faithful why Martin Jol paid £11.9million for him.

The big Bulgarian striker, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, scored within seven minutes of his home debut and showed some classy touches as Spurs brushed aside Premiership new boys Sheffield United in a game that was effectively over after 16 minutes.

That was how long it took Jermain Jenas to add a second from a Berbatov knockdown to condemn Neil Warnock's men to their first defeat back in the top flight.

Although United recovered from Tottenham's early blitz to make a game of it in the second half, Spurs were simply too good for them in the opening 45 minutes, with Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane running riot.

Keane, back from a thigh injury to replace Jermain Defoe in attack after their opening day defeat at Bolton, was in superb form, linking up brilliantly with Berbatov. And with Lennon showing the electric pace so sorely under-used by Sven-Goran Eriksson at the World Cup, Spurs were simply irrepressible in the opening half.

The first goal was as easy as it gets for any striker. Lennon played a one-two with Keane down the right, turned left-back Chris Armstrong inside out and delivered a low cross that Berbatov simply had to tap in from two yards.

Keane sent Teemu Tainio clean through but Paddy Kenny made a brave save at his feet, and then chipped a cross into the box. Berbatov rose high above David Unsworth to knock the ball down for Jenas who got ahead of Phil Jagielka, flicked the ball past Kenny and tapped it over the line.

Kenny made a great save to keep out a Berbatov volley after Keane had put the Bulgarian through, and then cut out another dangerous cross from Lennon after great work on the wings.

With Warnock banished to the stands again, serving out the remainder of his touchline ban, the Blades were blunted in the first half, managing just one shot on target, a long shot from Danny Webber that forced Paul Robinson to make his only real save of the night.

But United came out much stronger for the second half, showing the spirit that held Liverpool to a draw at the weekend, and had a penalty appeal turned down when David Sommeil went down under Tainio's challenge in the box.

They kept going and forced Spurs on to the back foot for much of the half, with Michael Tonge going close with a couple of long-range shots, but Spurs still went closest to adding to the scoreline. Keane shot wide of the far post and Young-Pyo Lee fired over after being set up by Berbatov, while Jenas had a thumping long-range shot well-blocked

Defoe came on for Keane in the final minutes and forced three great saves from Kenny as he attempted to get a goal.

Edgar Davids flashed a long-range shot over in the closing minutes as Spurs finished the stronger and wrapped up their first points of the season, while United left empty-handed for the long journey back north.