Hull City's poor home form from last season carried over into this as they were thrashed 5-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at the KC Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Wide open at the back in the early stages, City found themselves 2-0 down inside 15 minutes. Stephen Hunt's second goal in as many games gave the Tigers hope, but any real thoughts of a comeback were killed off by Jermain Defoe on the stroke of half time before Robbie Keane and Defoe added to the woe late on.

The Tigers made just one change to their starting line-up with Daniel Cousin replacing the injured former Tottenham midfielder Dean Marney.

That meant City went with two up front, Cousin being partnered by Caleb Folan.

Kevin Kilbane recovered from illness to take a place on the bench.

Anthony Gardner lined-up against his former club while another ex-Spur, Nick Barmby, was on the Tigers' bench. 

Spurs, without rested defender Ledley King, settled quickly and went close in the sixth minute when Defoe spotted Boaz Myhill off his line, but the England striker chipped a shot just over the bar.

Tottenham made their early possession count in the tenth minute.

George Boateng gave the ball straight to Tom Huddlestone who found Defoe.

The striker made it look easy as he fired low across Myhill and into the far corner of the net.

Defoe was having a field day against the City defence, finding holes at every opportunity.

The next time he picked up possession he fed Keane who in turn found Wilson Palacios in space to his left and the midfielder fired inside the near post to give Spurs a 2-0 lead in the 14th minute.

The only black mark for Spurs up to this point was an injury picked up by goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes just before the second goal and he had to be replaced by Carlo Cudicini.

The away side continued to press and Myhill was forced to save Luka Modric's 19th-minute shot before Defoe fired over moments later.

Changes were needed for City and a substitution came on 22 minutes with Geovanni replacing Cousin.

City's first bright moment came when Hunt picked up Michael Turner's diagonal ball and cut inside, but his cross-shot drifted harmlessly wide.

And it was Hunt who provided a route back into the game in the 25th-minute as his in-swinging free kick from the right side evaded everybody before ending up in the far corner of the net.

The former Reading winger followed up his opening day strike at Chelsea with a goal on his home debut.

Geovanni and Hunt were now pulling the strings and only Alan Hutton's last-ditch tackle prevented Hunt from getting in a clean strike on goal and surely a second of the game.

City thought they'd levelled on 37 minutes when Folan turned his man and produced a lovely finish, but referee Chris Foy somehow managed to award Spurs a free kick.

And the sucker punch soon followed as just a minute before the break, a harmless-looking flick from Keane had the City defence beaten and Defoe raced through and blasted into the net.

Half Time: Tigers 1-3 Spurs

City made a change at half time with Nick Barmby replacing Steven Mouyokolo.

That saw Bernard Mendy drop to right back with Barmby playing on the right of midfield.

The second half started with Hunt picking up a yellow card for a foul on Hutton.

He was soon joined in the book by Keane for a foul on Barmby.

Appeals for a City penalty were waved away in the 60th minute when Geovanni appeared to be pushed over in the box.

Michael Turner was the next to be booked after going through the back of Modric.

The foul presented Spurs with a free kick 25 yards out but Huddlestone's shot was blocked by the wall.

The run of bookings then continued with Folan shown yellow for fouling Hutton before Hutton was cautioned for tripping Hunt.

City's final change came with 21 minutes to go as Kamel Ghilas replaced Boateng.

Spurs should have added a fourth when Aaron Lennon's low cross found Defoe, but Turner's presence was enough to put the striker off.

Moments later, Defoe had another chance after cutting inside Barmby, but he fired wide of the near post.

Spurs finally added a fourth with 12 minutes to go.

Breaking from a City corner, Keane fed Lennon down the right and when he crossed, Keane was in the middle to head home.

Substitute Peter Crouch almost made it five, but his header was held by Myhill.

There was still time for Defoe to complete a hat-trick as he blasted past Myhill from the edge of the area in added time.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Steven Mouyokolo (Barmby 46), Michael Turner, Anthony Gardner, Andy Dawson; Bernard Mendy, Seyi Olofinjana, George Boateng [captain] (Ghilas 69), Stephen Hunt; Caleb Folan, Daniel Cousin (Geovanni 22).

Subs: Matt Duke, Kamil Zayatte, Peter Halmosi, Kevin Kilbane, Nick Barmby, Geovanni, Kamel Ghilas.

Bookings: Hunt 47, Turner 65, Folan 67.

Spurs (4-4-2) Heurelho Gomes (Cudicini 15); Alan Hutton, Vedran Corluka, Sebastien Bassong, Benoit Assou-Ekotto; Aaron Lennon, Wilson Palacios, Tom Huddlestone, Luka Modric (Bentley 85); Robbie Keane [captain], (Crouch 81), Jermain Defoe.

Subs: Carlo Cudicini, David Bentley, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch, Kyle Naughton, Pascal Chimbonda, Jamie O'Hara.

Bookings: Keane 54, Hutton 68.

Jermain Defoe became the second player to score a hat-trick against the Tigers at the KC Stadium.

He follows Damien Spencer who hit three in a 3-3 draw with Cheltenham Town in the Third Division on 23 August 2003.