Tottenham's away campaign got off to an emphatic start with a 5-1 win at Hull City as Jermain Defoe scored a hat-trick.

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Defoe bagged a first-half brace while Wilson Palacios's first goal in English football saw Spurs take a 3-1 lead into half-time, after Stephen Hunt's free-kick drifted through a crowded area and in.

Robbie Keane added a fourth late in the second half before Defoe despatched a thunderous effort to complete his personal haul as Hull's winless streak in the Premier League stretched to a 13th game, while Spurs took six points from their opening two games for only the second time in 14 years.

As expected Ledley King's outing against Liverpool on Sunday meant he was forced to sit out this game as Alan Hutton came in, but the Scot had little to do in an opening 20 minutes that could only be described as total Tottenham dominance.

From the off the visitors passed and moved with fluid ease, and Defoe almost opened the scoring with a deft lob before he actually did just nine minutes into proceedings. A lapse in midfield discipline saw George Boateng give the ball away to Tom Huddlestone, and he laid Defoe on for a low finish across the face of Boaz Myhill's goal.

Just four minutes later Spurs' control of the game yielded a second goal. This time Keane fed Palacios in an almost identical position as Defoe found himself in earlier and the Honduran beat Myhill at his near post.

At this point, Spurs had not been tested in defence at all, and had been allowed to prosper on the attack. That changed with the introduction of Geovanni, who came on for Daniel Cousin in a tactical change shortly after Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes limped off injured, allowing Carlo Cudicini an early entrance.

Almost instantly Geovanni made an impact, winning a free-kick on the right flank which Hunt whipped in. The Brazilian attacked the ball in the air but made no contact, and it bounced straight into the top-left corner of Cudicini's net. With that, Hull were reinvigorated, if only momentarily.

Spurs had what looked a decent penalty appeal turned away by referee Chris Foy when Hutton's cross struck former White Hart Lane man Anthony Gardner on the arm, and Hull then nearly equalised. Geovanni caught Vedran Corluka in possession and sent Hunt bearing down on goal, but Hutton's last-ditch challenge took the ball off his toes.

Having weathered the brief storm, Spurs increased their advantage on the stroke of half time as Keane stepped over a through ball, allowing Defoe to latch on and beat Michael Turner with a neat touch. An unforgiving slam into the top-right corner left Myhill helpless and the striker wheeling away in delight.

Spurs were fastest out of the blocks after the break as well, and Boateng almost turned the ball into his own net when Benoit Assou-Ekotto cut the ball back from the by-line as he streamed down the left side.

Defoe then nearly completed his hat-trick as Keane's clever turn saw him race down the same side, but an attempted square ball to the central striker was blocked.

Geovanni continued to be the main threat for Hull with Hunt also providing regular effort, and the former appealed for a penalty as he fell under Sebastien Bassong and then made Cudicini tip a header over the bar.

However, it was at the other end where the action looked more likely to produce another goal, and after Defoe twice more went close to sealing his hat-trick Keane added his side's fourth of the evening with a sleek counter-attack strike.

Defending a corner, the Irishman brought the ball up the middle of the pitch and used Lennon on the overlap down the right. A final burst took the Spurs captain to the near post where he glanced his team-mate's cross past Myhill for his first of the campaign 13 minutes from full time.

And there was just enough time on the clock for Defoe to finish his evening on a high as he played a one-two with Lennon on the edge of the Hull area, before firing in an emphatic finish to round off a great evening for Harry Redknapp's side.