A first Premier League hat-trick from Gareth Bale helped Tottenham Hotspur record a 4-0 victory from their trip to Aston Villa this evening.
Visiting Spurs dominated large parts of the first half, but failed to score any goals to show for their efforts.
Paul Lambert's Villa improved after the restart, but they still shipped four goals.
Below Sports Mole has looked back over the 90 minutes to determine if the result flattered Tottenham.
Match statistics:
Villa:
Shots 4
On target 1
Possession 39%
Corners 2
Fouls 11
Tottenham:
Shots 20
On target 16
Possession 61%
Corners 16
Fouls 7
Was the result fair?
Had Spurs not won this encounter, Villa would have gotten away with daylight robbery! From start to finish Tottenham played the better football and eventually took their chances. The only surprise was that it took them so long to put the game to bed.
Villa's performance
It's hard to recall a home team being as negative as Villa were, particularly in the first half. They offered nothing as an attacking threat during the opening 45 minutes and although they improved slightly at the start of the second half, they were soon outclassed by their visitors. It's another heavy defeat for Lambert's young squad which has no doubt damaged their confidence.
Tottenham's performance
The main criticism of Tottenham's display is the fact that they did not score more! In the first half they forced 15 corners and created numerous chances, but didn't take any of them. The second half was much more clinical though. One other positive aspect for Andre Villas-Boas will be the way that his players kept hold of the ball for long periods.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Gareth Bale: The Welsh international has received his fair share of criticism in recent weeks for going down too easily. Today, he let his football ability do the talking. He tested Brad Guzan with a string of shots in the first half, before clinically beaten the American three times after the restart.
Biggest gaffe
This has to go to the whole Villa team and management for their tactics in the first half. There was very little attacking threat, which resulted in lone striker Christian Benteke cutting a lonely figure. Having set the team up that way, there was only going to be one outcome.
Referee performance
An easy evening for Mark Clattenburg, who had very little to do. He only had to brandish one yellow card, which was a deserved one for Fabian Delph following a late sliding challenge on Bale.
What next?
Villa: Lambert's side are at home again on Saturday. On this occasion Wigan Athletic will be the visitors to Villa Park.
Tottenham: Another trip away from home beckons for Spurs, who travel to Sunderland on the same day.
Liam Apicella
