Reading 1-3 Tottenham: Slick Spurs beat Reading to halt winless streak

While the starting line-ups were completely different four years on, nothing else had changed as Tottenham registered their first league win under new manager Andre Villas-Boas, thanks to a Jermain Defoe brace and a strike from Gareth Bale. Hal Robson-Kanu hit a consolation at the death for the Royals.

Reading were chasing shadows from the off and inevitably Spurs scored after 18 minutes following a brilliant pass from Reading old boy Gylfi Sigurdsson who released Aaron Lennon down the right.

He cut the ball back to Defoe who left Alex McCarthy with no chance, burying his shot in the keeper's right-hand corner.

Somehow Spurs failed to add another as opportunities came and went with Sigurdsson missing the best of these from six yards out after a mistake by McCarthy in his own box.

The Reading boss Brian McDermott undoubtedly fired a rocket up his players in the half-time break and they responded well, increasing their tempo and fighting for loose balls. Substitute Adam Le Fondre seemed to galvanise his side, injecting pace and enthusiasm in equal measure.

But Spurs soon rediscovered their rhythm with new signing Moussa Dembele particularly impressive as he and Sigurdsson continued to control things in the middle of the pitch.

After a short period of Royals' pressure they increased their lead when right-back Kyle Walker jinked past two defenders and found Gareth Bale free in the area.

Bale mishit his shot, but it ballooned over a helpless McCarthy. Two minutes later they increased their lead further when Defoe dribbled superbly from the halfway line and finished in the top corner.

Reading kept battling and scored a consolation on 90 minutes, Robson-Kanu prodding home from two yards.

There was a suggestion before the game that the job of new Tottenham manager Villas-Boas, was in jeopardy but more slick performances like this should prevent that outcome.

After this dismal showing from Reading it is their Premier league survival which looks in far greater danger.