The Welshman (20 minutes) and Rafael van der Vaart (33) were on target in an utterly one-sided first half. Jay Bothroyd halved the deficit on 62 but Bale's second ended the argument. Victory was enough to send Spurs fifth, but they had ample opportunity to plunder the two further goals which would have returned them to the top four at Newcastle's expense. Van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor were guilty of glaring misses before Bale capitalised on smart work from Aaron Lennon to crack an opener across Paddy Kenny. The Dutchman doubled the lead, killing Ledley King's wayward shot and deceiving Kenny from 15 yards. With Spurs threatening more, Rangers gaffer Neil Warnock made a double change at the break. It paid dividends, sub Bothroyd nodding his first for the club from Heidar Helguson's knock-back, and Brad Friedel was then called upon to deny Alejandro Faurlin an equaliser. But Kenny's goal continued to live a charmed life, Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto testing the R's keeper before the former exchanged rapid-fire passes with Lennon and bent in a sublime third for the hosts.
