LONDON: Andre Villas-Boas secured his first victory as Tottenham manager as his team outclassed Premier League newcomers Reading 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

The Portuguese has already faced questions about his future after only three games in charge but this powerful performance and convincing win provided an emphatic response.

Jermain Defoe gave Spurs an early lead and such was the scale of their domination that Villas-Boas might have been frustrated it took until the 71st minute for Gareth Bale to double their advantage.

Defoe then concluded a 50-yard run with a powerful angled finish as Reading – overrun throughout – faded badly, even though Hal Robson-Kanu pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

It was a display that will have given Villas-Boas great heart, with Mousa Dembele and Sandro providing power and fluidity in midfield alongside another newcomer, former Reading man Gylfi Sigurdsson and in Defoe they have a poacher in prime form, aided by the pace and width of Bale and Aaron Lennon.

Villas-Boas made good on his promise to keep faith with keeper Brad Friedel in preference to new signing Hugo Lloris – but the decision was an irrelevance throughout a first half totally controlled by the visitors even though they had only one Defoe goal to show for it.

Spurs made up for most time – and lost chances – after the break with further strikes from Bale and Defoe again. Reading managed one late reply from Hal Robson-Kanu.