Brace for Bale as Spurs showing menace

ANTON FERDINAND has endured a difficult week in which he has found himself the subject of unwanted scrutiny, but if the QPR defender was seeking respite on the White Hart Lane pitch, he came to the wrong place.

Not that the centre-back appeared distracted by the FA investigation into allegations Ferdinand was racially abused by John Terry, the Chelsea captain, last weekend. The Rangers defender performed commendably; it was just his misfortune to confront a Tottenham side in the kind of form that suggests the title race may not be the three-horse race many assume.

Gareth Bale produced two sumptuous finishes, Rafael van der Vaart capped an outstanding personal performance with a third and, but for a second-half recovery by the visitors, Spurs’ final tally could have been more.