With his team already 1-0 down, Coyle watched on in dismay as Attwell showed a straight red card to Cahill for bringing down Scott Parker on the left flank just over the halfway line in the 17th minute. Attwell, famed for his decision to allow Reading a "ghost goal" that never went anywhere near the posts at Watford, today judged that Cahill had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity when he hacked Parker down at least 40 yards from goal, even though Bolton had plenty of cover in the box. Coyle, who is already under pressure after a poor start to the season, was furious with Attwell over the red card and marched across the turf at White Hart Lane to confront the official at half-time. And the Scot did not hold back on his criticism of Attwell after the game. "To say I am angry about it is a bit of an understatement," he said. "I am totally bemused by the decision. Maybe it was a free-kick or a yellow card, but not a red. "If you understand the terminology it has to be a clear goalscoring opportunity. Now Scott Parker is a fantastic player but he took a touch with his left foot, went out to the wing, 50 yards from goal. We had Zat Knight in the middle and other defenders coming back. "So there was nothing clear on a goalscoring opportunity. I think everyone in the stadium was baffled it was given." Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp agreed with his opposite number, saying: "I thought the sending-off was harsh. I was shocked when they gave him a red card. "I was surprised the lad got a red when Scotty was so far away from goal." Gareth Bale had already tapped home from a Luka Modric corner by the time Cahill saw red, and from that point onwards Spurs ran riot. Aaron Lennon doubled Tottenham's lead in the second half with a low drive past Jussi Jaaskelainen before Jermain Defoe sealed the win with a tap-in on the hour. Bale's goal was a poignant strike given that it came a week after the death of former Wales boss Gary Speed. The 22-year-old celebrated his goal by lifting his boot aloft in front of the Bolton fans with the message: 'R.I.P Gary Speed' embroidered on it. The winger could have had three goals, but was otherwise in great form, terrorising the Bolton defence, much to Redknapp's delight. "He's top class," Redknapp said. "He's got everything. When you look at him, he is the complete footballer. "He was very close to Gary, as most of the Welsh lads would have been. "He's an amazing footballer - he is difficult to mark, he goes into pockets, he doesn't sit there and get marked out of the game. "He is learning all the time, he knows where to pop up and hurt defences by his movement." The win saw Tottenham equal their record of six straight wins in the Premier League era. They could have won by six or seven in north London today had it not been for some outstanding saves by Jaaskelainen, and Redknapp admits there is no reason why his team cannot challenge for the title if they keep on playing well. He said: "It is not impossible for us to win the league, but then again it is not impossible for Arsenal or Liverpool to win the league. There are six teams in it. "We are in good form. We just have to keep winning, because everyone else up there is bang in form."
