Wigan go top; Tottenham get first points; Bolton bottom

Wigan escaped relegation on the final day of the last season but a header from Emile Heskey and penalties from Danny Landzaat and Antoine Sibierski sent them to the top on goal difference from Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton.

 "It is always important to win your home games and we have done that very well," Wigan manager Chris Hutchings said.

 "When you are winning it is good for confidence. We have brought quality players to the club and it does not take them long to settle in.

 "It's a nice start to the season but let's remember there's a long, long way to go."

   Tottenham got off the mark with a 4-0 win over Derby County, with record signing Darren Bent among the scorers.

 Steed Malbranque's double put Spurs 2-0 up within six minutes at White Hart Lane and they were 3-0 up eight minutes later when Jenas found the net.

 Bent then completed the scoring 10 minutes from time with the fourth to lift them away from the foot of the table.

 Bottom spot now belongs to Bolton after they were beaten 3-1 at Portsmouth, a result that piles the pressure on manager Sammy Lee, even at this early stage in the season.

 Nicolas Anelka gave Bolton the perfect start when he put them ahead on 12 minutes but goals from Nwankwo Kanu and new signing John Utaka put the home side in front by half-time and a Mat Taylor penalty two minutes from the end sealed Bolton's fate.

 "When we defend the way we did in certain instances and you don't keep a clean sheet, you'll struggle to win football games," Lee said.

 "We need to defend better. I don't just mean the back four, I mean the whole team. But we'll turn it around."

   Everton missed the chance to go top on their own when they were beaten 1-0 at Reading, thanks to Stephen Hunt's 44th-minute goal.

 West Ham United also got their first points with a 1-0 win at Birmingham City, while Middlesbrough got their first points with a 2-1 win at Fulham.

 Brian McBride put Fulham ahead (16) but new signing Mido equalised (55) and Lee Cattermole won it for Boro (88) though David Healey had a late goal disallowed even though the ball appeared to have crossed the goalline.

 Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw by Aston Villa in the day's other match.

  The biggest action of the weekend, though, is on Sunday when Liverpool play Chelsea, Manchester United take on neighbours Manchester City and Arsenal are away to Blackburn Rovers.

DPA