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Jermain Defoe's dazzling winner for Spurs against Birmingham kept up his side's unbeaten start to the season. Defoe, being watched by England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, turned and jinked between two Blues players and ran at the visitors defence.
He then cut inside and shot home via a slight deflection.
Birmingham had plenty of possession but did not look like scoring, although Emile Heskey did have a header cleared off the line by Michael Brown.
Birmingham had started off promisingly when they quickly had the home side on the back foot before Tottenham found their feet.
But neither side could muster an effort on goal until Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes had the first shot of note when he put a long range effort comfortably wide after 20 minutes.
White Hart Lane boss Jacques Santini ventured out of his dugout to try and stir his players into action and striker Robbie Keane did manage a low shot which again went wide.
Mikael Forssell had a glimpse of the home goal when he latched onto a knockdown by his strike partner Heskey but had his effort blocked by defender Noureddine Naybet.
The game needed a piece of brilliance to spark it into life and Defoe obliged to give Spurs the lead.
The 21-year-old England striker ended a jinking run with a powerful 18-yard shot, which received a slight deflection, past the despairing dive of keeper Maik Taylor.
Tottenham were sitting on their lead after the interval as Birmingham dominated possession.
But Steve Bruce's side were missing a creative touch and rarely threatened to break through an organised defence.
Heskey had a header from a corner cleared off the line while Julian Gray volleyed easily over when Birmingham did get efforts in on goal.
Heskey thought he should have had a penalty when he knocked the ball past Paul Robinson before going down as the keeper slid into to get the ball.
Instead, the striker, who also headed over from close range in injury-time, was booked as Spurs made it two wins and two draws from four games so far this season.
