It was a day of sub-plots at White Hart Lane, perhaps the most interesting Harry Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle’s return to Tottenham.
But there was no fairy-tale ending for the Queens Park Rangers duo, only misery, as they watched their team – and new 3-5-2 formation – decimated by Mauricio Pochettino’s slick new look Spurs.
Redknapp was afforded a warm welcome by the home supporters on his first return to Tottenham since his controversial sacking in 2012.
But that was where the sentimentality ended as Spurs put the Barclays Premier League new-boys to the sword with a breathtaking display.
The signs were ominous from the outset, Tottenham dominating possession, with Pochettino’s high-pressing style already having a clear influence.
Their first opportunity arrived in the 10th minute, Emmanuel Adebayor leaping above Richard Dunne only to head Nabil Bentaleb’s cross over the bar.
But it didn’t take long for the Spurs striker to make amends, just two minutes in fact, as he played a crucial role in the hosts taking a deserved lead.
Having won the ball in midfield, Bentaleb fed the Togolese who produced an excellent cross from the left-hand side which took Dunne, positioned at the back post, completely out of the game, leaving Nacer Chadli to cooly finish from close range.
You could argue a defender as experienced as Dunne shouldn’t have be beaten at his back post, not that Pochettino cared as he celebrated the first home goal of his reign.
Spurs should have doubled their advantage two minutes later, but Adebayor fluffed his lines again after brilliant work from Jan Vertonghen in a rapid breakaway.
Redknapp’s side weren’t at the races, in truth they were lucky to be just a goal down.
But out of the blue, QPR conjured up a fantastic chance to pull themselves level in the 20th minute.
Joey Barton’s inch-perfect ball over the top was expertly controlled by Matt Phillips, who cut inside Younes Kaboul before firing over the bar with just Hugo Lloris to beat from 12 yards.
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It was an undeserved opportunity for Rangers, nevertheless, Redknapp knew it was the sort of chance his side couldn’t squander.
And he was right, as Spurs set about putting themselves three goals clear before half-time.
Christian Eriksen rattled the cross bar with a superbly executed 30-yard free kick on the 24th minute before Spurs’ latest hero Dier added to his growing reputation with Tottenham’s second
But again, the goal owed much to poor defending from QPR, this time from debutant Leroy Fer in the 30th minute.
The Dutchman inexplicably lost Dier’s near post run allowing the England Under 21 defender to nod Erik Lamela’s corner past Green to score his second goal in as many league games since arriving from Sporting Lisbon.
And seven minutes later it was three as Lamela showed why chairman Daniel Levy was so keen to persevere with the Argentine after his woeful first season at White Hart Lane.
The South American cut through QPR’s shell-shocked defence with a threatening run before producing an inch-perfect cross to leave Chadli with the simple job of heading past Green.
After his difficult first season at White Hart Lane, the Argentine showed signs of major progress on Sunday.
On the run: Queens Park Rangers defender Armand Traore (right) attempts to get past Tottenham goalscorer Dier (left)
Tricky customer: Argentine winger Erik Lamela (right) uses his pace to get away from defender Dunne (left) during the opening periodTwo first-half assists provided tangible evidence of that, but it was his body language and demeanour that was perhaps most impressive.
Lamela wanted the ball at every available opportunity, not afraid express himself – a far cry from last season’s troubles.
But how Chadli was afforded the freedom of the penalty area to scored his second of the game would have infuriated Redknapp.
Much has been made of QPR’s transition to a 3-5-2 system, but no formation or tactics could account for the woeful individual defending that cost QPR three first goals.
Television cameras at White Hart Lane cut to Hoddle, sitting in the stands, furiously writing notes in his pad before the half-time break.
Dunne carried the can for QPR’s defensive woes, the Irishman substituted in place of Nedum Onuoha at half-time.
Rio Ferdinand rolled back the years to deny Chadli a hat-trick with top class defending early in the second period, before Eriksen was denied by Steven Caulker’s excellent challenge after another Spurs break.
Even in second gear, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Spurs increased their advantage and so it proved in the 65th minute when Adebayor finished off Danny Rose’s low cross after excellent work from Chadli.
Lloris comfortably saved Caulker’s deflected drive in the 79th minute before the visitor’s saw a goal chalked off for a foul on the excellent Rose as Spurs strolled to three wins in three under Pochettino.
Source: Dailymail