Jol Given Room to Breathe As Spurs Cast Derby Aside

Three goals in the first 15 minutes set up a comfortable first win of the season for Tottenham, as Martin Jol felt the pressure lift on his hitherto troubled few weeks with a convincing 4-0 thumping of Derby.

Spurs' miserable start to the season after a summer of spending meant all eyes were on the Spurs manager from the beginning of the game, even though the new campaign was just two games old. But it didn't take long for the tension to ease, when Steed Malbranque's second-minute goal from a Jermaine Jenas pass put Tottenham ahead at White Hart Lane against Derby.

The goal was something of a sucker punch for the Rams. They were caught cold in defence as Jenas rolled a free-kick to the French midfielder, who lined up his shot and rifled the ball beyond Stephen Bywater. The assist for Malbranque's second goal came from Darren Bent four minutes later, and Jenas then made it three after 13 minutes with a fine finish off the post.

Bent added the fourth himself by heading in on the goal-line after Pascal Chimbonda challenged at the back post and the ball was flicked on to the bar by Stephen Bywater.

Elsewhere Fulham crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough, despite taking the lead. Brian McBride, who scored the goal, was stretchered off after sustaining a dislocated left knee in the process. Hameur Bouazza also left the game with a dislocated shoulder, before Boro equalised through new signing Mido nine minutes into the second half. Three minutes from time, Boro took the lead through Lee Cattermole, and there was still time for David Healy to be denied an equaliser by the officials, despite appearing to force the ball over the goal-line by at least a foot.

Everton started the day at the top of the Premier League table but could not overcome Reading at the Madejski Stadium. Two minutes before the interval, Ulises De la Cruz launched a long throw into the Everton box before a Stephen Hunt powered his way through to collect the ball and slide his shot beyond goalkeeper Tim Howard to go 1-0 ahead.

Emile Heskey continued his impressive form for Wigan against Roy Keane's unbeaten Sunderland, helping his side go to the top of the table with a 3-0 win. Heskey slotted home in the 19th minute after Antonio Valencia's cross had taken a deflection on its way across goal. Wigan added two more goals through penalties: first Danny Collins fouled Antoine Sibierski to give Denny Landzaat a chance to double the lead from the spot, which he duly took. Then Russell Anderson brought down Heskey for Sibierski to score Wigan's second penalty in just seven minutes.

West Ham recorded their first win of the season, thanks to Mark Noble's 70th-minute penalty against Birmingham at St Andrew's. Noble, who was the Hammers' best player, scored from the spot after Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle spilled Craig Bellamy in the area.

Earlier in the day, a patched-up Portsmouth side ran out 3-1 winners against Bolton, whose manager Sammy Lee has now overseen three outings without a point. Kanu and John Utaka put Pompey ahead after Nicolas Anelka had given Wanderers a surprise lead before a late Matt Taylor penalty sealed the points for the Fratton Park side.