2-0 v Portsmouth FC - 13 August 2005 - Away

Tottenham consigned Portsmouth to an opening-day defeat thanks to an Andy Griffin own goal and a superb effort from England striker Jermain Defoe. Portsmouth looked bright in the first half but were rocked by a goal seconds before the interval.

Griffin slid in to challenge Mido but diverted the ball past on-loan Pompey keeper Sander Westerveld.

Defoe wrapped up the win in the 64th minute, racing onto Mido's hopeful pass and lashing home from an acute angle.

The goals punctuated an otherwise mundane affair in dreadful conditions on the south coast.

Spurs, without the injured Edgar Davids, Robbie Keane and Ledley King, gave debuts to midfielders Wayne Routledge and Teemu Tainio along with defender Paul Stalteri.

Portsmouth, meanwhile, included six of their summer signings but it was they who looked the more fluent in the first half.

They were grateful to Westerveld in the fourth minute when he denied Routledge a dream start to his Spurs career by blocking from close range.

But as the half wore on, Pompey began to ask questions of the Tottenham defence, with Lomana LuaLua's incisive runs a constant threat.

Anthony Gardner brought the striker down after 26 minutes to give Laurent Robert his first look at a free-kick for his new club but he slammed his effort straight at Paul Robinson.

Six minutes later, his perfectly weighted pass found fellow debutant Azar Karadas but the on-loan Norwegian striker stumbled on the ball.

Portsmouth might have considered themselves unlucky to go in at half-time level but, as it was, they had a 1-0 deficit to contemplate instead.

In virtually the last action of the half, Defoe threaded a pass through for strike partner Mido only for Griffin to get there first and beat Westerveld.

Portsmouth made a change at the break, bringing Vincent Pericard on for Ivica Mornar, but though the Spurs defence never looked comfortable, their attack proved the more deadly.

The danger looked minimal as Defoe sprinted onto Mido's pass but the England striker toe-poked the ball past Westerveld before unleashing a stunning left-foot shot on the turn.

Portsmouth continued to battle in the torrential rain and in injury time, unmarked substitute Collins Mbesuma put a golden consolation chance straight into Robinson's hands.

But Spurs held on to hand the hosts their first defeat in an opening day Premiership fixture.

Portsmouth boss Alain Perrin: "We need to sign two offensive players - a striker and an attacking midfielder. "I know the team can play better because we were better in pre-season, but we didn't create enough chances in the second half.

"But we know we played a good team and and the next game we'll play better."