Berba-King !

Tottenham's large travelling contingent of fans were treated to an impressive showing as their side continued its preparations for the big Premiership kick off at St Andrews. Spurs' fitness and passing impressed throughout and in £10.8 million man Dimitar Berbatov, the Lilywhites hope they have found a centre-forward capable of taking last season's achievements on to the next level in 2006-2007.

Berbatov has set himself a target of bagging 15-20 goals in his first season in England in order to fire Spurs towards a Champions League spot. On the evidence of his showing during Tottenham's 2-0 victory over Birmingham City, he has the qualities to realise this ambition.

Despite not being blessed with a lightening turn of pace, his speed of thought is second to none. Comfortable in the air or on the floor, his two goals showed a clinical edge that could take the Premiership by storm.

Spurs lined up with a 4-3-3 formation, with Robbie Keane playing as a link man between the midfield and Defoe and Berbatov upfront. This worked to great effect and the Irish skipper was at the heart of Spurs' fluent passing moves in this valuable pre-season work out. The system gave Spurs' flair players the stage to express their attacking prowess however boss Martin Jol insisted that the 4-3-3 was deployed as a fitness, rather than a tactical exercise.

In the torrential rain that fell throughout in the West Midlands, Berbatov opened the scoring on twelve minutes. Latching on to a cute ball over the top of the Blues back line by Hossam Ghaly, he took just two touches to control and rifle past Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal.

If his first strike was good, his second was even better. Ghaly again picked out Berbatov in space on the edge of the Birmingham penalty area.

Brimming with confidence from his goal just two minutes earlier, the Bulgarian fired an unstoppable volley which cannoned in off the underside of the Blues cross bar. All four sides of the ground stood and applauded Berbatov's moment of magic. Jol was clearly delighted with the big striker after the game and commented, 'It's a long time since I saw a goal like that, but he (Berbatov) is a guy who can do that'.

Spurs played a comfortable style of football, creating a number of further opportunities while rarely looking tested by Birmingham at the other end.

Benoit Assou Ekoto looks a solid signing at left back and coming up against the former Spur Stephen Kelly, he looked by far the more accomplished player. Spurs fans cruelly taunted the Birmingham faithful with taunts of 'We'll never play you again'. Tottenham's expert performance showed that the gulf between Premiership and Championship is as big as the ambitions of the two club's going into their respective new seasons.

Fulop, Routledge (Ifil, 66), King (Davenport, 66), Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Huddlestone, Ghaly (Ziegler, 57), Tainio, Defoe (O'Hara, 86), Keane (Murphy, 64), Berbatov (Barnard, 71). Unused sub: Cerny.

Player Watch

Fulop 6/10 Rarely tested, but his successful spell on loan at Coventry last season proved that he could be trusted if called upon in the future.

Routledge 7/10 Spent large parts of 05/06 injured or on loan, but the versatile wide man showed he's still got all the speed and skill that appealed to Martin Jol twelve months ago.

Ekoto 7/10 Solid, athletic and confident performer that will surely feature regularly at full back in the forthcoming season.

Huddlestone 8/10 Despite his relative youth and inexperience, has shown whenever called upon he is a midfielder capable of playing at the top level. Could soften the blow should Carrick depart to Manchester United.

Dawson 6/10 An easy work out as Birmingham fail to trouble one of Spurs' best players of last season

King 7/10 Typical captain's performance , reliable and fitting example to the younger players around him.

Ghaly 6/10 Some way from being the finished product, but his supply for both goals demonstrates why he was such a hit for Clive Allen's reserve side last season.

Tainio 6/10 Quietly effective as always, stood in for King as skipper for last 20 minutes of the game.

Berbatov 9/10 Exciting and natural looking goal scorer who could do big things for Spurs in the Premiership

Keane 8/10 A fine performance from a player who has matured no end in 2006

Defoe 7/10 Hoping to catch Steve McClaren's eye next season, which is pretty likely with the
bright orange boots he sported as St Andrews.