Crisis? What crisis?!

On a serious note, a four-nil thumping of a pretty poor Derby side isn't really a great indicator for where our season will go. But I bet the sports writers out there (and maybe even one or two on here) will be lauding a fine Spurs performance. So fickle.

I had no doubts we'd win yesterday. But the manner of the victory perhaps even surprised me. When you go three-nil up inside the first quarter of an hour, you know three points are in the bag. Well, usually.

Early goals were exactly what was needed to ease the tensions and seeing Malbranque on a hat-trick after just five minutes certainly did that. I gather a more balanced side was sent out yesterday than against Everton. Good decisions I think to play Routledge and Huddlestone (although I was confused as to the reasoning behind dropping Zokora ahead of Jenas - maybe I was just being swept along by the gossip?). The fact that Lee was back helped enormously. As many who have read my reports already know, I rate him very highly in his position. He was excellent again yesterday. No doubt when Bale is fit he could better this, but for the time being, its great to have a left back again!

So, a minute or so in Jenas slips a free-kick left to Malbranque. He lines up a shot that dips just in front of the keeper and nestles in the back of the net. Sitting pretty much right behind the line of the shot I thought it would just squeeze wide. How much a better feeling to see the keeper beaten and the net rustling!

Four minutes later a lovely build-up finds Malbranque unmarked and he curls in a shot to make it two-nil. Who could possibly have thought that Malbranque would be on for a hat-trick in just five minutes?

Our dominance in midfield was confirmed by Jenas strolling through their half, holding off a couple of challenges and firing in off the post. A good goal. And he celebrated it as if to say "There you go. That's what I can do.". Which is great. And as I've said myself before - I wish he would do it more often!

The first half continued on this tempo - Spurs dominant and attacking repeatedly, Derby hardly able to get into the game. While Sunderland a week earlier had impressed me with their organisation and slick one-touch passing, Derby didn't! Fair enough, they were coming to the Lane in a must win game for us, but they've got a lot to do if they're going to stick it in the top flight.

Routledge flicked into the net for what looked like a fourth, only to be ruled offside. Haven't seen any highlights so can't say whether it was or not, although it looks like some of the media are saying it was the wrong decision. We had a penalty shout as well that was turned down and it was all indicative of just how attacking we were in the first half. Defensively there wasn't a great deal to have to deal with, but Gardner and Rocha did what was needed, and, as already said, thankfully Lee was back and performing as we expect a left back to. Interestingly, Robbie wanted to see as much of the ball as he possibly could. I got the distinct impression that yesterday he wanted to dictate the pace of the game. And largely he succeeded, in effort at least. Unfortunately, some of his passing left a little to be desired!

The second half, of course, wasn't going to be quite so thrilling. At three-nil you know two things will happen. First, we'll ease up a little bit. A real shame, because I don't think we should. I certainly don't think you'd see ManUre doing that. Second, Derby were going to come out with a bit more to prove and try making it more difficult.

Both things happened, but I suspect the marginally more even nature of the contest was more down to us not pressing quite so hard. There wasn't a great deal to talk about in the second half until Taarabt got on in fact. And bloody hell, when he got on, both he and we enjoyed it!

Within a minute of coming on he'd picked the ball up on the left, used some fantastic ball skills to beat a couple of defenders and got a shot off! And minutes later he was at it again, and again. OK, so his shooting was a bit wayward, but he added a sense of urgency and willingness to shoot from range that hadn't been there before. He is a top class player. I've said that since he came on for his debut from the bench at West Ham last season. I can't wait to see him start a game and really show what he can do.

It was Taarabt, in fact, that won the free kick from which Bent opened his account. Floated to the far post, headed back by Chimbonda, tipped on the bar, it fell back and both Bent and Defoe scrambled to prod it in. I couldn't actually tell who had!

So, four-nil. A very comfortable home win. A balanced side, but as I didn't see the Everton game I can't really comment on a comparison. It gets us up and running, and we have a LOT of players still to come back. King, Dawson, Bale, Lennon, Boateng, Berbatov..... Unfortunately, I'm not sure how many will be back for the trip to Old Trafford. That, I expect, will be a different prospect entirely!