Hull City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

English striker Defoe 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 and Robbie Keane's header made it four with Defoe then slamming in a hat-trick goal.

It is the first 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 season when they went eight games without a win.

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 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 inspired his team-mates and, not long after, they were level when Hunt's free-kick eluded everyone and bounced into the far.

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.

And Defoe then in stoppage time, thundered home from a 20 yard after 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.