Hearts 0-5 Tottenham

By Alistair Magowan BBC Sport

Hearts 0 - 5 Tottenham

Rafael van der Vaart scores the Spurs opener

Hearts failed to pick up Van der Vaart, right, who had a hand in three goals

Tottenham showed no signs of rustiness in their first competitive game of the season as they demolished Hearts in their Europa League play-off first leg.

Rafael van der Vaart opened the scoring on five minutes when he slotted in after Hearts failed to clear.

Jermain Defoe and Jake Livermore added similar goals with Van der Vaart involved in good build-up play.

Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon then completed the rout when they scored on the counter attack.

There could have been more goals for Harry Redknapp's side with Defoe also hitting the bar in the first half despite being flagged offside.

But the performance showed that rather than suffering from a lack of meaningful action after their Premier League match against Everton was cancelled because of riots in north London, they had a real appetite to get their season up and running.

For new Hearts boss Paulo Sergio, who has only been in the job for a fortnight, it was a rude awakening, especially coming hard on the heels of a promising 3-0 win over Aberdeen that gave the Edinburgh side their first Scottish Premier League win of the season.

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The goals from five different scorers came on a night when Spurs were hampered by injury, but they passed the ball around with ease in a dominant display.

It may be stretching it to say the victory showed they would be able to cope without midfielder Luka Modric, who has been linked with Chelsea, such was the lack of bite from the hosts.

Yet the emergence of Livermore, alongside Niko Kranjcar, will give watching supporters reason to think the future is bright.

All evening the hosts struggled to pick up Van der Vaart, who was playing behind Defoe and had a hand in all three first-half goals.

His influence dictated the tempo of their attacks, yet once Spurs had taken a two-goal lead the game was shorn of its edge and gaps appeared all over the park.

Bale had already looked menacing down the left before Spurs went ahead and the goals before the break all began on that flank.

Defoe cut in to play a one-two with Van der Vaart but when the ball bounced off a defender and Marius Zaliukas failed to clear, it dropped to the Dutchman, who calmly finished.

Next it was Kranjcar who found Van der Vaart, and when he slipped the ball to Lennon, the winger created space for Defoe to prod home.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp

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Interview - Spurs manager Harry Redlknapp

Livermore then crowned a fine display when he scored his first Tottenham goal, with Van der Vaart again the architect and Defoe playing the final pass.

The first meaningful effort by Paulo Sergio's side came on 38 minutes when Ryan Stevenson cut in from the left and fired wide of the post.

But despite the gulf in class between the two teams, the newly-appointed Portuguese coach will have been disappointed by Hearts' lack of pressure on the ball.

They rallied briefly after half-time when a succession of corners created some cheer for the home supporters who had begun the game in good voice.

Twice Michael Dawson cleared, however, and when Andy Driver's goal-bound cross was diverted over by Stevenson, it summed up a miserable night for the Scottish team.

Just after the hour, Bale collected Tom Huddlestone's lofted pass to round Marian Kello and put the second leg next Thursday beyond all doubt.

Lennon then added the gloss when he tucked in Defoe's cross after a smart pass on the counter attack by substitute Andros Townsend.

Hearts boss Paulo Sergio: "In the first half we played like someone buying a ticket to watch the match. We didn't press the ball and if you give spaces like that to Tottenham it makes it difficult.

"We improved in the second and we were more aggressive on the ball. There is a huge difference in quality between the two teams but we should have done better in the first half."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp: "The first half was fantastic. We moved the ball around quickly and that is how I like to see us play. They came out in the second half stronger but in that first half we could have been even further in front. I just enjoyed watching us play. Niko Kranjcar and Rafael van der Vaart, their link-up play was great.

"You have to be fair and realistic, we have obviously got better quality players who earn a lot more than their players. We go to Old Trafford on Monday and we will see a different game."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Heart of Midlothian

25 Kello
03 Grainger Booked
06 Webster
26 Zaliukas
02 Hamill
08 Black
11 Driver (Elliott - 64' )
12 Templeton Booked
16 Stevenson
31 Mrowiec (Obua - 81' )
15 Sutton (Skacel - 74' )

Substitutes

30 MacDonald
13 Obua
17 McGowan
04 Jonsson
19 Skacel
10 Elliott
18 Novikovas

Tottenham Hotspur

01 Gomes
03 Bale (Townsend - 70' )
04 Kaboul Booked
20 Dawson
28 Walker
32 Assou-Ekotto
07 Lennon
11 Van der Vaart (Huddlestone - 59' )
21 Kranjcar
29 Livermore
18 Defoe (Pavlyuchenko - 79' )

Substitutes

23 Cudicini
24 Friedel
19 Bassong
22 Corluka
06 Huddlestone
31 Townsend
09 Pavlyuchenko

Ref: Tagliavento

Att: 16,279

Match Stats

Possession 43 57

Shots

10 15

On target

4 9

Corners

6 4

Fouls

9 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:14 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

88:44

Ryan Stevenson has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.

88:17

The ball is crossed by David Templeton, clearance by Michael Dawson.

86:22

Ryan Stevenson concedes a free kick for a foul on Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Free kick taken by Heurelho Gomes.

85:27

Niko Kranjcar has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, comfortable save by Marian Kello.

85:27 Booking

Booking The referee books Daniel Grainger for unsporting behaviour.

85:22 Booking

Booking David Templeton is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

85:11

David Templeton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kyle Walker.

83:18

Effort from a long way out by Andros Townsend goes wide right of the target.

80:47 Substitution

Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with David Obua coming on for Adrian Mrowiec.

79:40

Andros Townsend delivers the ball.

78:23 Substitution

Substitution (Tottenham) makes a substitution, with Roman Pavlyuchenko coming on for Jermain Defoe.

77:16

The assist for the goal came from Jermain Defoe.

77:16 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Lennon - Hearts 0 - 5 Tottenham A goal is scored by Aaron Lennon from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 0-5 Tottenham.

76:38

Stephen Elliott takes a shot. Save made by Heurelho Gomes. Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Hamill from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Kyle Walker.

74:36

Corner taken right-footed by Niko Kranjcar, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Jermain Defoe. Marian Kello restarts play with the free kick.

73:41 Substitution

Substitution John Sutton leaves the field to be replaced by Rudi Skacel.

72:12

Ryan Stevenson takes a shot. Blocked by Younes Kaboul.

70:39

Daniel Grainger challenges Kyle Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Niko Kranjcar delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing. Andros Townsend has a shot on goal from outside the area which misses left.

69:27 Substitution

Substitution Andros Townsend replaces Gareth Bale.

66:29

Unfair challenge on Niko Kranjcar by Ryan Stevenson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

65:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adrian Mrowiec by Niko Kranjcar. Direct free kick taken by Andy Webster.

63:59 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Driver leaves the field to be replaced by Stephen Elliott.

62:50

Tom Huddlestone provided the assist for the goal.

62:50 Goal scored

Goal - Gareth Bale - Hearts 0 - 4 Tottenham Gareth Bale fires in a goal from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 0-4 Tottenham.

60:24

Shot from inside the area by Tom Huddlestone clears the bar.

58:08 Substitution

Substitution Tom Huddlestone is brought on as a substitute for Rafael Van der Vaart.

57:04

Jamie Hamill crosses the ball, Benoit Assou-Ekotto gets a block in. Corner taken by Daniel Grainger from the right by-line, Heurelho Gomes makes a comfortable save.

55:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adrian Mrowiec by Kyle Walker. Marian Kello takes the free kick.

51:43

Shot from outside the box by Jamie Hamill goes wide right of the target.

50:16

Daniel Grainger produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

50:16 Booking

Booking The referee books Younes Kaboul for unsporting behaviour.