Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas finally secured his first home win of the season and was quick to praise the performance of Jermain Defoe.

The north London club had drawn their first three competitive games of the season at White Hart Lane and it had looked as though they would struggle to gain a victory after the first 45 minutes against Queens Park Rangers.

Jermain Defoe
Defoe celebrates after scoring the winning against QPR [Reuters] Reuters

Bobby Zamora handed the Hoops the lead, before an own-goal from Alejandro Faurlin and a Defoe strike from close range handed Spurs all three points.

The England striker has started the season in superb form and was picked out by his manager after helping secure a first home win for Villas-Boas.

"Defoe is performing at the top level," Villas-Boas told the Associated Press. "He has had his opportunities this season and he is taking them tremendously.

"This summer I had conversations with him and his agent and told them that I am a person who respects people who are performing well and he deserved a lot of credit for the goals he scored last season.

"This season he is facing tough competition from Emmanuel Adebayor and Clint Dempsey, but he keeps on performing. The competition is making him tick."

Defoe had struggled to hold down a place in the first team last season with Harry Redknapp preferring to use Emmanuel Adebayor as a lone forward.

Villas-Boas has continued to play just one striker, but with Adebayor currently sidelined, Defoe has impressed by scoring four goals in his first five Premier League games.

There had been speculation over the summer that Defoe would look to leave Tottenham after a season in which he became frustrated at his lack of game time.

However, under Villas Boas, it appears as though he will continue to start games while he demonstrates this fantastic form.

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