Spurs inflict more misery on Villa

Gareth Bale bagged a second-half hat-trick as Tottenham returned to the Barclays Premier League top four with a comfortable 4-0 victory at Aston Villa.

After dominating the first half without managing to make a breakthrough, Spurs went ahead in the 57th minute when Jermain Defoe nutmegged Brad Guzan to register his 14th goal of the season.

Bale - who had already gone close twice - then stole the show, netting in the 61st, 73rd and 84th minutes to take his own tally for the campaign to 10.

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