Tottenham Hotspur have extended their winning streak to six and their unbeaten run to 11 with a 3-0 result over Bolton Wanderers at White Hart Lane.
Goals from Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe capitulated Harry Redknapp's Spurs into second position on 31 points, seven behind league leaders Manchester City, and one ahead of Manchester United who take on Aston Villa this evening.
Bolton's poor run continued to 10 defeats from their last 12 matches and today wasn't made any easier with the questionable sending off of key defender Gary Cahill in the 18th minute when it was 1-0.
The opening goal came about in just the seventh minute in the easiest of manners when Luka Modric's corner was met by an unmarked Bale who quite simply flicked it into the back of the net at the near post and celebrated by taking his boot off in memory of Gary Speed.
Just over ten minutes later and the Trotters were down to ten men when Cahill brought down Scott Parker with referee Stuart Attwell adjudging him to be the last man and denying the home team a clear goal scoring opportunity but the decision was very debatable.
Spurs went two up five minutes into the second half when Aaron Lennon received a pass from Jermain Defoe on the left side of the area to cut back inside and fire home before the contest was snuffed out when Defoe finished from close range from a Bale flick-on from Modric's corner just after the hour-mark for his 50th goal at White Hart Lane.
There were plenty of other chances for Spurs who had a total of 27 shots on goal with 12 on target but Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen stood in the way of a Tottenham cricket score with no less than nine saves as Owen Coyle's men tasted defeat for the 11th time this season.
TRIBAL ASKS: Are Tottenham genuine title contenders?
Tottenham: 3 (Gareth Bale 7', Aaron Lennon 50', Jermain Defoe 61') Bolton: 0
White Hart Lane, North London - 35,896
Yellow cards:TOT - nil BOL - Paul Robinson 44', Dedryck Boyata 59'
Red card:BOL - Gary Cahill 18'
