AP
Sunderland's Danny Collins (left), fights for the ball against Wigan's Antonio Valencia during their English Premier League soccer match at the JJB Stadium, Wigan, yesterday. Wigan won 3-0.

LONDON (AP):

Tottenham lifted the pressure on manager Martin Jol by scoring three goals in the first 14 minutes yesterday on the way to a 4-0 Premier League victory over Derby.

Losses to Sunderland and Everton had left Spurs last in the standings with speculation that Jol, who has led the team to fifth-place finishes in the last two seasons, might be the first Premier League manager to lose his job.

But Steed Malbranque scored twice in the first six minutes and Jermaine Jenas scored a third after a 40-metre run in the 14th to lift the clouds of gloom from White Hart Lane. Ten minutes from the end, Darren Bent scored his first competitive goal for Spurs since his move from Charlton.

"Of course it's a relief," Jol said. "To lose two back-to-back games, we needed a win and, in that view, it was a must-win game and that's why I am very happy with the performance of the players. We made the fans happy again and that's the main thing in football."

Lost top spot

In yesterday'sother games, Brian McBride put Fulham ahead in a 2-1 loss at home to Middles-brough, but was carried off with a dislocated knee. The American striker was injured in the act of scoring and Fulham said his knee may also be broken.

Leaders Everton lost 1-0 at Reading to lose the top spot to Wigan, who outplayed newcomers Sunderland 3-0 helped by two penalties. Portsmouth rallied to beat Bolton 3-1, West Ham won 1-0 at Birmingham, and Newcastle and Aston Villa drew 0-0 in which Michael Owen made his first appearance of the season as a 63rd-minute substitute.

The highlight games of the weekend are on today when Manchester City play Manchester United, Blackburn host Arsenal and Liverpool take on Chelsea.

After McBride's goal at Craven Cottage, Middlesbrough turned the game around with strikes by new signing Ahmed Mido, who only joined the club on Thursday, and Lee Cattermole. Fulham were furious that they had a late equaliser ruled out even though TV replays suggested David Healy's shot had crossed the line.

"Everybody could see it was a goal," Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez said. "There was nobody blocking the linesman's view of it. He has to be brave and make the decision. It was well over.

"That was one part of what was a bad day all round at the office. To lose two players with dislocations with minimal contact really. Brian scored and dislocated his kneecap in the doing of it with no contact whatsoever. We were dominating the game at that stage. Then Hameur (Bouazza) with an innocuous challenge to dislocate his shoulder."

Atop standings

Stephen Hunt scored Reading's winner a minute before half-time against Reading and Mark Noble's 70th-minute penalty earned West Ham the points at Birmingham.

Emile Heskey gave Wigan a 19th-minute lead against Sunderland and spot kicks by Denny Landzaat and Antoine Sibierski gave the Latics a lopsided victory.

Three months after the team narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League with a victory on the final day of the season, they sit atop the standings with six points from three game other teams have a game in hand.

Lesson for players

Sunderland manager Roy Keane said the result was a lesson for his players.

"We're disappointed with the three goals. We'll have to take our medicine," the former Manchester United midfielder said. "Some-times you have to lose to win, and I learned a few things about one or two people today. These players are with us on this journey, and unfortunately one or two will fall by the side."

Nwankwo Kanu scored one goal and created the other two to guide Portsmouth to a 3-1 victory over Bolton. After Nicolas Anelka had put Bolton 1-0 ahead in the 12th minute, Kanu equalised in the 16th and provided the pass for John Utaka's strike in the 30th. Matt Taylor's penalty after a foul on Kanu made it 3-1 with two minutes to go.

The result means that Harry Redknapp's unbeaten Portsmouth has five points from a victory and two ties, while Bolton have lost their first three matches.