Spurs thrash sorry Latics

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.

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 received the ball on the left 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.

Dimitar Berbatov 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.

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