Three first half goals were enough for Tottenham to see off fellow strugglers Stoke 3-0 at White Hart Lane. Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and a header from Michael Dawson did the damage in 25 minute spell, before James Beattie pulled one back for the visitors with his first goal for the Potters after the interval.
It was Luka Modric however who earned the plaudits from boss Harry Redknapp: "He showed against a strong, physical team that he is a great footballer and has a massive heart. He never shirks receiving the ball, he's a top, top player.
"That's what I tell them to do, get him on the ball because he can make things happen.
"I've played him in a 4-4-2 where most people said he couldn't play in England. It's an open looking team but I've got confident we'll be okay."
Stoke boss Tony Pulis admitted his side were simply 'not good enough.'
"We were nowhere near good enough this evening and I'm disappointed in that," he told the club's official website.
"It was a game we were all looking forward to but for some reason we lacked the bottle and spirit to get something from the game.
"You can't afford to go to places like Tottenham and give them so much time and space, because if you do this is what happens."