Tottenham hammer woeful Wigan

Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon, both trying to fight their way back into the England reckoning, got the first-half goals at White Hart Lane to put Spurs in total control at the interval.

Darren Bent, also looking to catch the eye of Steve McClaren, came off the bench in the second half to complete the scoring.

It was hardly a sign that Spurs are now going to challenge for the Champions League place they targeted at the start of the season, although some of the confidence lacking in the final days of Martin Jol's reign appeared to return.

They were helped by a hapless performance from the visitors. Wigan had lost their previous six matches and never looked like ending their abysmal run.

Attention will now turn to who will replace Chris Hutchings, or indeed if Paul Jewell would want Hutchings back at the club if he got the job. Another 32 points to get to the 40 mark seems a long way away.

As for Ramos, he is unbeaten in his four games since taking over from Martin Jol and this was his first win in the league, only Spurs' second all season. The Spaniard wanted a win to have any chance of chasing a European place, and victory never looked in doubt.

Wigan's caretaker boss, Frank Barlow, had clearly told his players to target Spurs' lack of confidence at the back by aiming for the physical presence of Marcus Bent.

Although Spurs' marking was still slack at times, the visitors were toothless in attack and it was not long before the hosts took control, the opener coming in the 13th minute.

Robbie Keane was fed the ball on the left by Steed Malbranque before tricking Andreas Granqvist on the byline. His cross should have been dealt with by Chris Kirkland but the goalkeeper's effort could not prevent Jenas tapping in on the line.

Ramos wrote in his programme notes that he wanted his side to be positive when they were in the lead, rather than inviting the opposition.

Keane's volley that dipped over and a long-range effort from Dimitar Berbatov suggested they were on the attack.

Berbatov was criticised for appearing unhappy this week but he had a smile back on his face and the Bulgarian's flicks and tricks were coming off.

He set up the next two goals, the first of which came in the 26th minute.

Keane was offside when Berbatov's throughball was made, but Jenas had made a run on the blindside of the Wigan defence. The Spurs midfielder rounded Kirkland before planting his finish past Kevin Kilbane on the line.

For the third, Berbatov trapped Paul Robinson's huge kick before providing a nonchalant cushioned pass to Lennon. The winger took one touch before drilling a volley into the far post.

Barlow responded by bringing on Antoine Sibierski for David Cotterill six minutes before the break, but it was too little too late.

Jenas should have had a hat-trick a minute before the break, latching onto another Berbatov flick before heading into the penalty area - but his finish shaved the post.

The second half was a case of how many goals Spurs could muster. Keane lobbed over when he was sent through just after the restart as Ramos' men refused to sit back.

Josip Skoko was booked for a foul on Jenas before he was taken off later in the second half. Paul Scharner also received a yellow card from Howard Webb.

Pascal Chimbonda, the former Wigan full-back who was jeered by the travelling support, forced a save from Kirkland at the near post.

Keane was taken off for Bent, while Malbranque picked up a knock and was replaced by Teemu Tainio.

Spurs striker Bent added the fourth 17 minutes before the end, his finish going in off the post after Jenas had threaded him through.

Jermain Defoe also came on but got struck straight between the legs when Younes Kaboul's effort crashed off the bar.