Tottenham Hotspur treated the White Hart Lane crowd to a football clinic in their first home match of the season this afternoon, beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 in a Premier League London derby.
The match was won by half time as Spurs raced into a 3-0 lead before the break, with Nacer Chadli scoring twice and Eric Dier also getting on the scoresheet.
They added a fourth in the second half as Emmanuel Adebayor slotted home Danny Rose's pass to complete the rout.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at a nightmare return to the Lane for Harry Redknapp.
Match statistics
Tottenham
Shots: 18
On target: 5
Possession: 66%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 12
QPR
Shots: 9
On target: 1
Possession: 34%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 6
Was the result fair?
Absolutely. Tottenham dominated the match pretty much from start to finish and, after Chadli opened the scoring in the 12th minute, there only ever looked like being one winner.
The hosts were superior in every area of the field, causing QPR's defence huge problems when coming forward and dealing with the visitors easily at the other end. They also dominated the midfield battle, winning the ball back numerous times inside the QPR half to launch quick counter-attacks.
QPR did have chances, and they really should have scored at least once this afternoon, but they never looked like troubling Tottenham's scoreline supremacy. The four-goal margin does not flatter the hosts at all and, in truth, it could have, should have and deserved to be more.
Tottenham's performance
Having won twice already this season without particularly playing well, this was the performance the fans were waiting for. Tottenham were superb in all areas of the pitch this afternoon, pressing off the ball really well and playing some lovely football when in possession.
They were particularly impressive on the counter-attack, pouring men forward with pace time after time. QPR simply couldn't handle the speed of Tottenham's attacks, and that proved to be a profitable avenue for the hosts. They will take particular pleasure from the performance of Erik Lamela, who was oozing confidence in a free-flowing side.
It must be said that QPR didn't exactly put up much resistance, and tougher tests will come for Spurs this season, but this was certainly a promising display from Mauricio Pochettino's men. If they can play like that all season, a push for the top four is very much on the cards.
QPR's performance
QPR are trialling the use of a 3-5-2 formation but, on this evidence, the sooner they get rid of it the better. They were completely overrun in midfield and could not cope with the pace of Tottenham's counter-attacks when they lost the ball.
The wing-backs, intended to be an attacking outlet as well as a defensive strength, proved to be neither as they were pinned back by Tottenham's attacks without dropping deep enough to help out the struggling three central defenders. They did improve once the formation was dispatched of at half time, but by then it was too late.
In attack, they created very little and only threatened once from open play. Even so, Steven Caulker missed two very good chances from corners, while Matty Phillips should have equalised with the score at 1-0. It was at the back that the main problems lay, however, with every Tottenham goal coming from an unmarked man. If they don't improve rapidly, they have to be favourites for an immediate return to the Championship.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Erik Lamela: In truth, this award could have gone to a number of Tottenham players. Christian Eriksen, Danny Rose and Chadli all had very good games for the hosts, while Adebayor and Jan Vertonghen more than played their part.
However, Lamela is as deserving as any having finally started to show signs of why Spurs paid so much money for him last summer. He flourished in the new Tottenham system, setting up two of the goals and constantly providing a threat from midfield. He could be as good as a new signing if he keeps that up all season.
Biggest gaffe
Despite being second best for the entire match, QPR squandered some glorious chances of their own. Caulker was guilty of a couple, but the most costly proved to be one from Phillips in the first half.
With the score still 1-0 to the hosts, Phillips was sent through on goal but, with only Hugo Lloris to beat, he lifted his effort high over the bar when he should have scored. Had that gone in, it could have been a very different game.
Referee performance
Anthony Taylor had a quiet game this afternoon. He only had to produce one yellow card, and that was a deserved one for Leroy Fer. Solid stuff from the man in the middle.
What next?
Tottenham: Next up for Spurs is the second leg of their Europa League playoff against AEL Limassol. That takes place at White Hart Lane on Thursday night.
QPR: QPR, meanwhile, have the slightly less glamorous trip to Burton Albion in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Barney Corkhill
