Defoe sends out message

Defoe has not started a game during Spurs' dismal start to the season and was not even on the bench against Arsenal last Saturday, but he scored with his first touch in the first leg of the UEFA Cup first-round clash.

His impish chip came after Spurs had put themselves within sight of the group stages, with three goals just before the break adding to Younes Kaboul's opener. The Cypriots were woeful but pulled a goal back, but Defoe scored the sixth in stoppage-time with a curling effort into the top corner.

Kaboul set them on their way in the fifth minute - Tom Huddlestone swung a corner in and the French centre-back ran across the Famagusta defence and glanced his header inside the unmanned far post.

Darren Bent had a decent penalty shout and Robbie Keane forced a save before the wheels fell off for the Cypriots after the hosts doubled the lead.

Michael Dawson grabbed the second when he stabbed home from close range after Pascal Chimbonda headed down Keane's corner. It sparked ugly exchanges between the sets of supporters, with missiles thrown by the visitors - but the focus was back on the pitch two minutes later when Keane turned and finished neatly.

Bent added a fourth in the 43rd minute when Lambros Lambrou's clearance went past his own goalkeeper, giving the Spurs striker an open goal.

Jol brought on Defoe in the 63rd minute to a standing ovation, and there was an even bigger cheer when he grabbed his goal two minutes later with his first touches.

Anton Zlogar pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining when Spurs failed to clear a cross and he poked into the bottom corner, but Defoe added his second at the end of the game when he cut in and curled into the top corner from 25 yards.