Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas admits matchwinner Gareth Bale was the difference after victory over Southampton.

Villas-Boas was left to shower praise on his star man not for the first time this season.

"At the moment the player is in outstanding form and is scoring goals out of nowhere, with great ability," the Portuguese said.

"He is really enjoying his football and it was good for him to decide it once again.

"He had a difficult game at the beginning. He couldn't find the spaces to receive the ball.

"We weren't passing the ball properly, we were trying a lot of long balls and our game wasn't going our way. In the second half we managed to find him a little bit better, on the left and on the right when we changed it, and it was the only moment when Southampton left him, that split second."