Berbatov sensational as Spurs strike four

IF Dimitar Berbatov always plays this well when he is unhappy, Juande Ramos should postpone any planned clear-the-air talks. The Bulgarian’s unsettled state of mind has been under much scrutiny this week after he looked less than overjoyed in scoring against Hapoel Tel Aviv in midweek.

Yesterday he failed to find the net but was nonetheless the game’s most outstanding individual in a one-sided contest. He set up colleagues on a day when all the goalscorers were English and his sublime touch did not appear to be that of a man who wanted to be elsewhere.

No wonder, then, that Ramos, the new Spurs manager, was confident the striker, whose relationship with former boss Martin Jol had been strained, would wish to remain part of the new regime.

The Spaniard offered no promises, however, hinting that a final resolution will depend on Spurs’ final league position, with this win having lifted them from 17th to 14th.

“He played exceptionally,” Ramos said. “The same as the team. Even though he didn’t score he did very well.

“He has said he wanted to stay. Obviously he is a player, when the team is winning, who is going to be happy and want to stay. At the end of the season he will make a decision and hopefully he will stay.”

Jermaine Jenas netted the first two goals and celebrated with a swinging arm motion to mark the birth of a baby daughter a few days previously.

Robbie Keane was the creator of the first, nutmegging Andreas Granqvist on the left byline before by-passing goalkeeper Chris Kirkland for a tap-in. Keane had a cameo in the second, too, checking his run into offside territory to allow Jenas to canter on to Berbatov’s through ball, round Kirkland and find the net.

Berbatov set up the third 10 minutes before the break after Paul Robinson’s long punt down-field had deceived Wigan left-back Kevin Kilbane with its bounce. He looked almost lazy as he swept the ball back to Aaron Lennon, who found the smallest of gaps to beat Kirkland from the edge of the box.

Wigan suffered only one more setback — substitute Darren Bent marking his 200th game by firing in the fourth late on — but it could have been worse.

Kirkland pulled off fine stops to deny Didier Zokora and Berbatov in quick succession with Bent then banging the rebound off the bar, hitting fellow replacement Jermain Defoe in the unmentionables on the way back.

The scale of Spurs’ success must be measured against the shortcomings of their opponents, however, as Wigan looked every inch a doomed side with seven straight losses.

Caretaker Frank Barlow had set out a timid 4-5-1 formation and just five minutes were left before a shot on target was recorded. Just as well, then, that chairman Dave Whelan, who had fired Chris Hutchings a week ago, was away in Barbados although this may also have put off potential applicants. Indeed, a trip to Arsenal awaits the new man should he be brave enough to come straight away.

Barlow said: “They have got to look for an established manager. The chairman knows what he is looking for and you have just got to leave it to him.”

The softly-spoken coach, who was adamant he did not want the job himself, confirmed some “home truths” had been delivered in the dressing room. “We should apologise to our supporters for the first 45 minutes,” he said.

TOTTENHAM (4-4-2): Robinson 7, Chimbonda 7, Kaboul 7, Dawson 7, Lee 7, Lennon 8 (Defoe 80), Zokora 7, Jenas 8, Malbranque 7 (Tainio 53, 6), Keane 8 (D Bent 67, 7), Berbatov 9.

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Archibald-Henville.

WIGAN (4-5-1): Kirkland 5, Melchiot 6, Bramble 6, Granqvist 5, Kilbane 5, Cotterill 5 (Sibierski 40, 6), Scharner 5, Landzaat 5, Skoko 5 (Brown 64, 4), Taylor 6, M Bent 6.

Subs Not Used: Hall, Pollitt, Olembe.

REFEREE: Howard Webb 6: A late replacement for Lee Mason, Webb had few tricky decisions to make.

MATCH RATING: *** Spurs played well but Wigan offered nothing in return, thus diminishing the entertainment value.