TEAM OF THE WEEK
Team of the Week
There's only one place to start this week and, for once, I imagine no-one can possibly quibble with the inclusion of Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon in our Team of the Week. Spurs were totally and utterly irresistible against Wigan, scoring an incredible eight goals in 39 minutes. Talking you through all of Defoe's five goals, or Lennon's strike and pair of assists, would turn this into a dissertation-length article, so let's just say they were both very, very good.

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Aaron Lennon tore Wigan apart.
Joe Hart impressed for Birmingham as he kept a clean sheet against Fulham but Thomas Sorensen gets the gloves after a solid display against Pompey. The Danish stopper caught the eye of our TOTW panel after only eight minutes at the Britannia Stadium when he clung onto Kevin-Prince Boateng's spotkick, and his place was cemented by a flying stop to save a vicious, swerving drive from Jamie O'Hara.
Andy Wilkinson played his part in Stoke's clean sheet too, with a gritty display at right-back. He's missed just one of the Potters' five wins this season and almost registered a contender for goal of the season after a mazy run from his own half took him past three players, before his powerful shot flew narrowly over the bar.
Steven Caldwell is a happy man these days after swapping the turmoil of Newcastle's defence for the relative solidity of Burnley (via Sunderland). He played his part in another solid Clarets display at Turf Moor and bagged his first Premier League goal for six years to boot.
Completing our eclectic back three is Manchester United's Patrice Evra, for a typically menacing display down the left flank against Everton. Evra also had a hand in the opening goal, which was despatched superbly by midfielder Darren Fletcher, courtesy of a fierce, angled volley from 18 yards. Evra later described Fletcher's goal as "unbelievable" and he wasn't far off.
Chelsea were predictably rampant against Wolves and Michael Essien made sure he didn't miss out. The Ghana midfielder potted two in ten minutes, one with his head and one with a right-footed shot, which left 68 more minutes for him to try and complete a hat-trick. Only the bar, and a fine stop from Wayne Hennessey, denied him.
David Dunn's renaissance at Blackburn must have raised his hopes that he might be remembered for his prowess on the pitch rather than his infamous fluffed trick while at Birmingham. Dunn was the creative spark that turned the Lancashire derby, and his fine finish for the first goal laid the foundations for a famous win, made all the more impressive by the fact that manager Sam Allardyce was missing through illness.
Lee Bowyer's third league goal of the season was described as "world class" by a purring Alex McLeish, the first time the Birmingham midfielder has heard that phrase in connection with himself since he left Leeds all those years ago. And while Bowyer's temperament is still highly questionable, it's hard to argue with the Scot, after 'Rat Boy' deftly lobbed Mark Schwarzer to seal three points for the Blues.

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Darren Bent scored his ninth of the season in Sunderland's 1-0 win over Arsenal.
Darren Bent sent Arsenal packing on Saturday, just like he did Liverpool last month, but both his match winning goals owed more than a little to good fortune. The "beach ball" incident speaks for itself, but Bent only got the opportunity to net against Arsenal after an unwitting touch from Fraizer Campbell returned an errant header into his path. The rest, as they say, is history.
No contest for the crown of manager of the week, after Harry Redknapp inspired his troops to a nine-goal demolition of Wigan. Tottenham entered the 51st minute a goal to the good at White Hart Lane, but in the following 39 plus stoppage time, an astonishing eight more rained in. Harry's have a go heroes - Defoe, Crouch, Lennon and Kranjcar et al - ran riot against Roberto Martinez's lacklustre Latics as Spurs recorded the second biggest Premier League win of all time.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
GK: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke)
DEF: Andy Wilkinson (Stoke)
DEF: Steven Caldwell (Burnley)
DEF: Patrice Evra (Man Utd)
MID: Aaron Lennon (Spurs)
MID: Darren Fletcher (Man Utd)
MID: Michael Essien (Chelsea)
MID: David Dunn (Blackburn)
MID: Lee Bowyer (Birmingham)
ST: Jermain Defoe (Spurs)
ST: Darren Bent (Sunderland)
Manager: Harry Redknapp (Spurs)





