Defoe took advantage of the absence of Rafael van der Vaart through injury to score his seventh goal of the campaign and link effectively with two-goal Emmanuel Adebayor.

Victory extended Tottenham's unbeaten sequence in the Barclays Premier League to 10 games, of which they have won nine and drawn the other, and kept them on course for a Champions League spot.

Defoe has no doubts about the quality of the squad and Spurs will go second in the table behind Manchester City if they win their game in hand over Manchester United.

He said: "I think this is the best group of players I've been involved with. The squad is unbelievable.

"We've got two great teams in effect we can put out to be honest and it is a great time to be at the club.

"I just think the sky's the limit for Tottenham really."

Defoe has stayed positive despite his frustration at being out of the starting line-up.

He said: "Sometimes when you haven't played for a while it is difficult in terms of your sharpness.

"But I felt sharp at West Brom. I've always kept myself sharp in training even if I have to a little bit extra because I haven't played.

"I've done that and I felt really good."

The goal was a trademark Defoe finish, a lethal strike into the bottom corner after a surging forward run to the edge of the Albion box.

He said: "I was one-on-one running towards their goal and I just wanted to get that yard of space where I could hit it.

"It is something I've worked on my whole career and I still do it every day.

"In that position, I'm confident I'll hit the target."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was also keen to pay tribute to the influence of central defender Ledley King who continues to defy his chronic knee complaint with assured performances.

He said: "Ledley has played 13 games in this last little period and we've won 12 and drawn one.

"He is that important to us. When he has come back into the side, he has made a massive difference.

"Younes Kaboul looks a different player suddenly and it is no coincidence that has happened after Ledley has come back into the team."

Baggies midfielder James Morrison is confident his side will have no relegation fears this season if they maintain the level of performance shown against Spurs.

He said: "It is a fine line between the top teams and the mid-table and bottom teams.

"It's 1-1 and one minute we are on the attack, the next minute the ball is in our net. Fair play to Tottenham. It was a great goal from Defoe but we can hold our heads up high.

"If we keep playing like that, we will be all right this season. Early on in the season we weren't picking up points and not passing the ball like we can. But the lads seem confident at the moment."

The big worry for Albion was the loss of play-maker Zoltan Gera with a knee problem after he suddenly went to ground shortly after his side had gone ahead through Youssouf Mulumbu's header.

Head coach Roy Hodgson said: "All we can do is keep our fingers crossed it is not a serious knee ligament problem.

"He will go for a scan but I think it is a knee ligament problem because he was on his own when it just suddenly happened. It wasn't from a challenge.

"Zoltan has done well for us since coming back into the team and worked well with Shane Long."