Spurs 3 Maribor 1: Defoe hits hat-trick

It seems Andre Villas-Boas does not have the stubborn streak we once thought he might. Spurs fans had clamoured for Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor to play together in a 4-4-2 formation and that is just what their manager gave them.

Defoe responded with a hat-trick but Tottenham, once again, made hard work for themselves, conceding a sloppy goal after 40 minutes thanks to an error from Hugo Lloris. It leaves Villas-Boas’ side second in Group J with two games to go.

The Spurs manager described the match as a ‘defining moment’ in his team’s Europa League campaign but the same could apply to Tottenham’s domestic fortunes.

It was Adebayor’s time to hit the turf six minutes later when he went to ground under pressure from Arghus after a neatly threaded pass from Aaron Lennon. Finnish referee Antti Munukka was not impressed and neither was Arghus, who made a diving motion with his hands as play restarted.

Main men: Both Gareth Bale and Defoe were in exceptional form

Yet the chances kept coming, generally courtesy of Bale’s left foot. A 17th-minute cross from the Wales winger was just a touch too high for Defoe, but the striker anticipated another inviting delivery five minutes later, stealing in front of Aleksander Rajcevic brilliantly to find the bottom right-hand corner and put Spurs ahead after 21 minutes.

Adebayor then found the target with a delightful chipped effort, which was correctly disallowed for offside but Spurs reverted to this season’s type by conceding the softest of goals.

Fabrice Muamba made an emotional return to White Hart Lane at half-time, thanking Spurs for their support after he collapsed on this pitch last March.

Howler: Hugo Lloris failed to deal with Kyle Naughton's poor backpass, leaving Robert Beric with a gift of a goal

Howler: NK Maribor players celebrate after Robert Beric scored their first goal

Face like thunder: Naughton reflects on a hospital ball to his keeper

It was a poignant moment as the former Bolton midfielder tearfully tried to explain his gratitude and need for closure. Amid the rumblings of discontent from fans, perhaps it brought a sense of perspective, too.

It took only four minutes for the atmosphere to lift again as Tom Carroll and Defoe combined to score Spurs’ second. The young midfielder’s one-touch pass set Defoe free and his left-foot shot flew past Jasmin Handanovic in the Maribor goal.

Emotional scenes: Fabrice Muamba returned to the White Hart Lane pitch - the scene of his cardiac arrest last year - at half-time

Yet Spurs still failed to take command, quickly conceding a soft free-kick from which Beric was unlucky not to score. Adebayor then mistimed a volley after a beautiful chip from Bale beat the offside trap.

The Villas-Boas master plan, though, worked out nicely, Defoe adding his third in brilliant fashion after 77 minutes. Tom Huddlestone picked out Bale on the left and Defoe pounced in the centre to finish off a thrilling Tottenham counter-attack.