We recorded a second 3-0 win in the second friendly of our pre-season programme against AFC Bournemouth on Friday night.
Just like the 3-0 win at Exeter on Wednesday night, it was nearly a game of two teams again, but this time Carlo Cudicini and Tom Huddlestone went the distance, while Jake Livermore played 75 minutes after replacing the injured David Bentley.
Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Wilson Palacios netted the goals that secured the victory on the route home from the training camp week in Devon.
Cudicini and then Michael Dawson were called to prevent Bournemouth snatching a lead inside the first five minutes, the goalkeeper being alert to an inswinging corner, while the central defender threw himself in front of a goalbound effort from Jason Pearce.
A Danny Rose cross from the left was nodded wide by David Bentley after 11 minutes before Ryan Garry reacted well when Robbie Keane was headed through by Darren Bent, Garry making a superb tackle to deny the Irishman a run on goal.
The start was a little sluggish - again, like Exeter - and conditions were perhaps taking a bit of time to adjust to, given the wind gusting into Dean Court from the end yet to have a stand built behind the goal.
Bentley was upended and hurt in challenge just outside the area on 15 minutes and, such was the force of the tackle by Warren Cummings, the wide man was forced from the pitch and eventually replaced by Jake Livermore. Tom Huddlestone thumped the resulting free-kick just past the post.
Livermore slotted in at left-back, allowing Danny Rose to push on, while Luka Modric switched to the right.
Brett Pitman crashed a free-kick into the side netting after a Kevin-Prince Boateng foul at the top right-hand corner of the penalty area, but the home side found themselves in arrears on 27 minutes.
Bent picked out the run of his strike partner Keane to the left of the area and the skipper executed a low finish beyond former Spurs Academy keeper Shwan Jalal.
Cudicini was forced into a smothering block six minutes before the break to deny Jeff Goulding, who had plotted a route into the danger area.
The second half team were nearly quick off the mark with a snap shot from Jamie O'Hara that Jalal did well to thwart down to his left.
He could do nothing about our second on 55 minutes. Livermore retained possession, beating his markers in a tight spot before picking out Jermain Defoe and the little hitman struck low to Jalal's right and into the bottom corner.
Jalal was again picking the ball out of his net on 67 minutes when, after making a save from Defoe, he could do nothing when Wilson Palacios seized on the rebound to make it 3-0.
Defoe then rattled the bar with Jalal beaten all ends up, while Huddlestone later forced the keeper into a flying save to his right, tipping around post.
Like at Exeter, the second half performance was more polished than the first.
Next up it is Peterborough on Tuesday night at London Road.
