Tottenham Hotspur 2 Sheffield United 0: With such a kaleidoscope of attacking movement Tottenham's future is colourful once more. It might not have seemed that way after a team aspiring to the Champions League placings slipped to an opening-day defeat, but with Aaron Lennon now in his stride Spurs can look to the future with brimming confidence.
Didier Zokora, for all his undoubted suitability to the Premiership fray as a combative holding midfielder, is not the equal of the player he is being asked to replace, Michael Carrick. Indeed, last night he was ordered to acquaint himself with Premiership customs from the bench as Martin Jol attempted to stimulate expansiveness in his team with a reworked selection.
It meant that Sheffield United's hope, inflated at Bramall Lane by the worthy 1-1 draw with Liverpool three days previously, was soon punctured.
Unable to call on Rob Hulse after the striker failed to recover adequately from the weekend's exertions, Neil Warnock produced a wary line-up.
David Sommeil and Chris Armstrong were employed as wing-backs either side of a three-man defence, but even what invariably became a five-man back line could not legislate for Aaron Lennon. The lively winger proved within just seven minutes that he cannot be fettered by such a tactic as double marking.
David Unsworth was pulled out of position by Lennon's neat footwork and a gate was open. The England winger dashed through it to the byline and passed the ball across the six-yard box, from where Dimitar Berbatov could simply walk the ball into the net.
The Bulgarian seems to be £10.75 million well spent.
If anything, the lanky former Bayer Leverkusen striker appears too slightly built for the English league but he puts his attributes to good use and his first Premiership goal came from his second worthy chance. The first had come from Robbie Keane's deep cross from the touchline, which saw Berbatov elude Chris Morgan but fail to connect with his far-post lunge.
Though United could not provide the support to their lone striker, Ade Akinbiyi, that might have hurt Spurs, the home side showed how devastating midfield runners can be. After 17 minutes Keane again ran off his partner to the touchline and delivered a pinpoint cross to the penalty box. Berbatov soared for the flicked header that Jermaine Jenas raced to collect before lifting the ball simply over Paddy Kenny for Tottenham's second.
TOTTENHAM: Robinson, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Davenport, Lee, Lennon, Jenas, Tainio (Zokora 69), Davids, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 82). Subs not used: Cerny, Stalteri, Gardner. Goals: Berbatov 7, Jenas 17.
SHEFFIELD UTD: Kenny, Sommeil (Montgomery 60), Bromby, Morgan, Unsworth (Nade 61), Gillespie (Alan Quinn 80), Jagielka, Tonge, Armstrong, Akinbiyi, Webber. Subs not used: Kozluk, Leigertwood. Booked: Bromby.
Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
