London: Tottenham won their sixth straight Premier League game by easing to a 3-0 victory over 10-man Bolton on Saturday.
Gareth Bale tapped home Luka Modric's corner to open the scoring after six minutes and then removed his boot in front of the Bolton fans as a tribute to former Wales manager and Trotters player Gary Speed.
Gary Cahill was given a harsh red card for a foul on Scott Parker in the 17th minute and Spurs dominated from then on, adding second-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon to seal the comfortable win which stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches.
The result further enhanced Tottenham's chances of claiming a top-four place and kept it within seven points of leader Manchester City, who have played one more game.
Tottenham entered the match having dropped just two points in their previous 10 matches. Bolton, on the other hand, had won only one match in their last five and are deep inside the relegation zone.
After a minute's applause for former Trotters player Speed, Spurs showed their class from the start and took just six minutes to score.
Zat Knight's sliding block on Aaron Lennon deflected the winger's shot behind and Bale sneaked ahead of his marker to tap home at the near post from the resulting corner.
The winger took his left boot, which had a tribute to his former national manager stitched into it, aloft in front of the away fans.
Bolton's afternoon went from bad to worse in the 18th minute when Cahill was sent off for a foul on Parker.
Parker dispossessed Cahill on the halfway line and ran 20 yards down the left flank before the defender clattered into him from behind.
Referee Stuart Attwell ruled that Parker was in a goalscoring position, and gave the defender a straight red despite Bolton having plenty of cover in the box.
Owen Coyle was furious at the decision, and his side looked even more vulnerable with 10 men.
Jaaskelainen pulled off a brilliant save to deny Defoe from eight yards before a rare Bolton attack saw Brad Friedel tip over Chris Eagles' deflected effort.
Spurs dominated the game from then on and wasted a host of chances before hitting Bolton on the counterattack in the 50th minute to make it 2-0. Lennon cut in from the right flank and jinked past two defenders before firing past Jaaskelainen.
Tottenham should have had a penalty five minutes later when Kevin Davies pushed over Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the Bolton box, but Attwell waved play on.
Moments later it was 3-0, thanks to Defoe's eighth of the season. Bale flicked on Modric's corner at the near post and the England striker beat his marker to score from four yards.
Modric then went close with a blistering 20-yard shot which Jaaskelainen tipped over.
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