Tottenham thrashed the Latics 9-1 in November, he opened the scoring here when he was a yard offside. Then the England striker left the stage clear for forgotten man Roman Pavlyuchenko to wrap up the points.The Russian’s two goals guaranteed Spurs leapt up to fourth place in the Premier League after starting the match in seventh – underlining just how tight the battle for the final Champions League spot has become. Defoe struck on 27 minutes. Peter Crouch released Niko Kranjcar, who teed the ball up neatly for the overlapping Gareth Bale. Bale had timed his run to perfection but there was no doubt Defoe had gone too soon. And after sliding in to poke the ball past Chris Kirkland he gave a guilty look across to the touchline. But the linesman’s flag stayed down, to the amazement of the home defenders. Defoe’s latest effort meant he had supplied every one of Tottenham’s last six goals in all competitions.
Pavlyuchenko, who was almost on his way to Lokomotiv Moscow in the transfer window, could argue he showed boss Harry Redknapp he does have other options. He certainly made the most of a rare outing after replacing Defoe 17 minutes from time. He added a cool finish to fellow sub Luka Modric’s surging run on 84 minutes and a couple of minutes into stoppage time he hooked home the rebound after Kirkland had blocked his point-blank header. Kirkland may have had to pick the ball out of his net a dozen times in two matches against Spurs but he kept his side in with a shout until Pavlyuchenko’s late double. The former England keeper made a terrific save from Defoe and then spread himself to deny Crouch. Spurs defied the bog-like playing surface to produce some sparkling football and also showed a willingness to roll up their sleeves, something that has not always been a feature of their play.Wigan were still aggrieved over Defoe’s opener long after the final whistle. But they need to stop feeling sorry for themselves if they are to get out of trouble.
They rarely threatened to peg Spurs back, although Heurelho Gomes produced an acrobatic save to tip over a Hugo Rodallega drive in the first half and Charles N’Zogbia was not too far away with a curling effort. The Latics have now managed just one win in their last 12 Premier League matches – at Wolves – and are only two points clear of the drop zone. The shocking state of their pitch, churned up by the onset of the new rugby league season, has not helped a side that likes to play passing football. They will dig it up on Friday and have it re-laid. Maybe Spurs would like to have the old turf sent down to London…
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN – GARETH BALE (Tottenham)
WIGAN: Kirkland 6, Melchiot 6, Caldwell 5, Scharner 7, Diame 5, Figueroa 6, Thomas 5 (Moses 6), McCarthy 6, N’Zogbia 5, Moreno 6 (Sinclair 5), Rodallega 7. Subs not used: Stojkovic, Watson, Scotland, Gomez, Boyce. Booked: Diame, McCarthy, Figueroa.
TOTTENHAM: Gomes 6, Corluka 6, Dawson 7, Bale 9, King 6 (Bassong 6), Bentley 6, Huddlestone 7, Palacios 6, Kranjcar 6 (Modric 7), Crouch 5, Defoe 7 (Pavlyuchenko 8). Subs not used: Alnwick, Kaboul, Gudjohnsen, Rose. Booked: Bentley, Defoe, Dawson, Huddlestone.
Santosamaru 