Tottenham put on a clinic on the weekend with Jermaine Defoe and Aaron Lennon leading the way for Hotspur with five goals.  Soccer 365’s Andrew Discenza looks at the other great and not so great moments in this week’s Premier League Ins and Outs.

by Andrew Discenza

In

5-Star Defoe and Lennon

Jermaine Defoe and Aaron Lennon put on a spectacular show of football on Sunday, when they lead the way for a 9-goal demolishing at home to Wigan. The feisty English duo combined for six goals in the second half, and while Defoe will get the headlines for his five goals, Lennon was a vital piece of the Tottenham attack throughout the match.

Both players were lively in the 1st half. Lennon seemed to be everywhere running, out-dribbling defenders, and providing quality deliveries. Defoe nearly opened his account before halftime when he hit the bar from a tight angle, then saw a shot from distance land on the roof of the net.

Six minutes after the interval they combined brilliantly when Lennon swung in a stinging low cross which Defoe redirected into the roof of the net. The striker then looked much more composed three minutes later, finishing into the corner after a through-ball found him somehow between two defenders.

Lennon was instrumental again for Defoe’s hattrick goal just four minutes later, as he ran in behind and chipped in a cross which begged for the 27-year old to power it in at the near post. Lennon then got his name on the scoresheet in fine style, when he had the time in the area to pick his spot and hit the far corner.

Defoe continued his rampage in the 69th minute, scoring emphatically off the inside of the post when Vedran Corluka had played an inch-perfect pass in behind. Defoe got his fifth three minutes from time, capitalizing off Erik Edman’s mistake to slide the ball under Chris Kirkland. It was a busy day for the Wigan keeper, and a splendid day for Tottenham Hotspur.

Michael Essein & Flourent Malouda

The Chelsea midfield duo took the spotlight in the absence of the likes of Lampard, Drogba, and Carvalho, to lead their side to a convincing 4-0 victory at home to Wolves. The league leaders continue to roll on, showing the depth and quality of their side.

Malouda made his presence felt after five minutes, giving Chelsea a lead from which they wouldn’t look back. He strode down the middle of the pitch, then took aim and blasted a shot that flew straight as an arrow past goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey at the near post.

Just seven minutes later, Essein added to the tally when he leapt to head in at the near post. On 22 minutes the Ghanaian saw his shot find the net after connecting with both a defender and Hennessey. Essein nearly had his hattrick when Hennessey could only parry his drive onto the bar, and then when he fired just wide soon after.

Collison’s Header

The West Ham midfielder Jack Collison’s goal was the highlight of the wild 5-goal first half in Saturday’s match at Hull.

It must have come as a complete surprise to the Hull defense after just 11 minutes, as Collison backed toward goal nonchalantly as a ball over the top came into the box. He then leapt for the ball suddenly, cushioning it deftly so that it looped softly over goalkeeper Matt Duke, who was only a few yards off his line

Out

Wrong-Way Ricketts

Samuel Ricketts scored a horrendous own-goal on Sunday, dooming Blackburn Rovers to defeat after 73 minutes.

The incident came when both goalkeeper Jussi Jasskelainen and Ricketts attempted to intercept Brett Emerton’s pass. Ricketts got there first, and chose to head the ball back to his keeper without checking to see if he was still there.

Although some blame must rest on the shoulders of the silent Jasskelainen, it was Ricketts’ unnecessary forehead that sent the ball into the net. And it will be Ricketts that will likely get a talking-to from Gary Megson on the subject of communication and awareness.

Boateng’s Botched Penalty

Kevin-Prince Boateng failure to convert a penalty opened the door for Stoke to claim all three points at home to Portsmouth on Sunday.

The Pompey man was given the chance after just eight minutes when Rory Delap’s challenge was well high on Aruna Dindane. But Boateng’s spot-kick had neither direction nor pace, and when Thomas Sorensen saw the tame side-foot effort he pounced to his left to smother it.

Junior’s Blunder

Junior Stanislas spurned a golden opportunity on Saturday, when he missed a header late on that could have won all three points for West Ham at Hull. The two sides put on a delightful game for the neutral, but the 19-year wasted his chance to capture a happy ending for the Hammers.

When the ball came in from a corner Stanislas found himself in acres of space, but he headed powerfully against the ground, and to his dismay the ball bounded off the ground and up over the bar. It was an unfortunate miss, in a match in which neither team truly deserved to win.