Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp reacts during their EPL match against Tottenham Hotspur in London. (Reuters)
Nacer Chadli scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur ensured there was no happy return to White Hart Lane for Harry Redknapp as they beat their former manager’s Queens Park Rangers side 4-0 in the Premier League yesterday.
Sunday’s other early kick-off match in the English top-flight saw 10-man Hull draw 1-1 at home to Stoke.
Manchester United will go in search of their first competitive win under manager Louis van Gaal, away to Sunderland, later on Sunday, while reigning champions Manchester City face Liverpool, last season’s runners-up, at Eastlands on Monday.
Chadli put Spurs ahead in the 12th minute when he thrashed home Emmanuel Adebayor’s cross from six yards out.
Defender Eric Dier doubled Spurs’ lead with his second goal in as many matches when he headed in Erik Lamela’s corner at the near post on the half hour.
Tottenham went 3-0 up in the 37th minute, the match all but over as contest before half time.
Argentinian playmaker Lamela was again involved, his precise pass finding the head of Chadli, who nodded in from six yards.
Rangers did prevent Spurs adding to their tally until the 65th minute when Togo striker Adebayor side-footed home from six yards out after a fine run and cross by Danny Rose.
Victory meant Spurs went to the top of the table as one of only three sides, with Chelsea and Swansea, to have won both their opening games.
“I am happy to make two goals and help us to the win,” said Chadli.
Championship play-off winners QPR—who have Tottenham great and former England manager Glenn Hoddle working under Redknapp—have now lost two out of two following their 1-0 loss at home to Hull on the opening weekend.
‘Disappointing day’
“It’s a very disappointing day obviously. We started poorly and could have been one down in 30 seconds. We looked like a team of strangers,” Redknapp said.
“Getting beat here is no different to anywhere else. It’s just three points. That’s all that matters to me.”
Hull played most of the match a man down when last man James Chester was sent off in the 14th minute for bringing down Glenn Whelan on the edge of the box after being sold short by Jake Livermore’s poor back-pass.
But Hull still took the lead three minutes before half-time when Nikica Jelavic scored form close range after Stoke ‘keeper Asmir Begovic failed to hold a low shot from Tom Huddlestone.
It seemed the Tigers would hold out for all three points.
But Stoke equalised six minutes from time when, after Phil Bardsley hit the inside of the post, defender Ryan Shawcross did just enough to bundle the ball over the line, although Hull felt the throw-in that led to the goal should have gone their way.
“The throw-in was ours and blatantly ours,” said Hull manager Steve Bruce.
“What can you say? We had an awful one last week as well but it riles me a decision should be given, why can they not say in his ear ‘you have got that one wrong’?. It only takes 20 seconds. You have the technology.”