Tottenham moved seven points clear of Chelsea, and just five behind Manchester City, with a convincing 3-1 win over Wigan at White Hart Lane on Tuesday night.
Gareth Bale and Luka Modric had the game wrapped up before half-time before the Welshman nabbed a second in the second half but playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart did leave the game before half-time with what looked like a calf injury.
The big news before the game was the absence of Jermain Defoe from the Spurs matchday squad, fuelling speculation that the striker was off to pastures new.
But Spurs didn’t need the England striker to see off a feeble Wigan. From the kick-off Harry Redknapp’s side were in control with Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Bale tormenting the Latics defence.
After countless crosses were headed clear by Roberto Matinez’ back four eventually Spurs broke the deadlock. A Modric cross found Bale totally unmarked on the half-hour and he clipped home his 13th goal of the season.
Soon Spurs doubled their lead as Assou-Ekotta powered into the box and his initial effort rebounded to Modric on the edge of the box and the Croatian slotted it home.
Spurs eased up in the second half and Wigan began to make some headway. Victor Moses fired just over before Jordi Gomez forced Brad Friedel into action with 30 left to play.
You sensed if they needed to Spurs could find an extra gear and they duly did, with the Welshman grabbing his second. Again it was Assou-Ekotto who set it up before Bale drilled the ball past Ali Al Habsi from the corner of the box with his left foot.
Wigan sub James McArthur did pull one back as he finished off a move involving Moses, but the Scot’s first goal for Wigan did deflect off Assou-Ekotto, cruelly deceiving Friedel.
Some would argue that the Cameroonian defender should not have been on the pitch at that point as he was very lucky to escape a red card for a horrendous tackle on Franco Di Santo a few moments before.
Bale almost got his hat-trick but Al-Habsi pulled off a great save in the last minute to deny him.
Harry Redknapp won’t mind the clean-sheet going begging as his team pulled clear of Chelsea and they are now right in the hunt for the Premier League title.