LONDON (AP):

Jermain Defoe scored five goals including a seven-minute hat-trick as Tottenham overwhelmed Wigan 9-1 yesterday, while Blackburn ended a run of five straight away defeats with a 2-0 victory at Bolton.

After Peter Crouch had given Spurs a ninth-minute lead at White Hart Lane, Defoe took over with three strikes between the 51st and 58th minutes as Spurs went on to tie Manchester United's Premier League record nine goals in a 9-0 victory over Ipswich in March 1995.

Aaron Lennon scored Spurs' fifth, Defoe netted again in the 69th and 87th. Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland scored an own goal and Niko Kranjcar added another in the final minute.

Paul Scharner replied for Wigan when Spurs were already three goals up and the Austrian appeared to control the ball with his hands before scoring.

Defoe tied the Premier League record for most goals in a game, matching Alan Shearer's five for Newcastle against Sheffield Wednesday in September 1999 and Andy Cole for United in the game against Ipswich.

"It did cross my mind whether I was going to get another (hat-trick). I had another good chance but you can't complain getting five goals," Defoe said.

"Even if you just win games it brings confidence but to score nine goals in one game is fantastic for everyone."

Strikers in great form

Tottenham manager Harry Red-knapp paid tribute to his strikers.

"You don't get too many nines in the Premier League," Redknapp said.

"In the second half we took some great goals and their 'keeper made some great saves as well. I knew Defoe would be a real handful today but all the strikers have been in great form."

Tottenham moved level on points with third-place north London neighbour Arsenal, behind Chelsea and Manchester United who all played on Saturday. Chelsea outplayed Wolves 4-0 to stay five points clear at the top of the standings and Man United beat Everton 3-0 to capture second place from Arsenal, which lost 0-1 at Sunderland.

Blackburn's first away victory since a 2-1 win at Fulham in March of last season provided a tonic for manager Sam Allardyce, who is preparing to have surgery to widen a coronary artery. Allardyce missed this game and won't be at the next two.

A minute after Bolton's Matt Taylor had hit the bar with a free kick, David Dunn fired Blackburn ahead in the 32nd with a first time lob into the far corner.

The second goal was a gift, however. Bolton defender Sam Ricketts tried to head a Blackburn through ball back to goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, but the Finn had left his line to try and reach the ball and Ricketts' header went into an empty net.

The victory meant that Blackburn climbed four places to 11th.

Ricardo Fuller scored the winner in the 74th minute as Stoke edged last-place Portsmouth 1-0 to climb one place to ninth.

Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe (left) celebrates scoring the fourth goal against Wigan Athletic with teammate Tom Huddlestone during the English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane, London, yesterday. Tottenham won the match 9-1 and Defoe scored five goals.

Top net finders

LONDON (AP): Leading scorers in the English Premier League after yesterday's games: 11 - Jermain Defoe, Tottenham; 10 - Fernando Torres, Liverpool; 9 - Darren Bent, Sunderland, Didier Drogba, Chelsea; 7 - Robin van Persie, Arsenal, Wayne Rooney, Manchester United, Louis Saha, Everton; 6 - Gabriel Agbonlahor, Aston Villa, Carlton Cole, West Ham, Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal, Robbie Keane, Tottenham, Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester City, Craig Bellamy, Manchester City; 5 - Kenwyne Jones, Sunderland, Hugo Rodallega, Wigan.