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It has meant the quiet rejuvenation of Alan Hutton on the opposite flank has largely gone unnoticed, and arguably if Bale's form had not be so spectacular, Hutton would have commanded more column inches - for he has become a key player in a back four that has been riddled with disruption. Being a full back is not a glamourous posting, lacking the cachet of every other position, but a pacy and fluid athlete offers an important extra outlet.   

 

It was Hutton's 11th game in a row - and he seems to have made the place his own as Vedran Corluka is fit and available again. It is a remarkable turn around the 25-year-old Scot. At the end of last term he was out on loan at Sunderland and was ready to move if the price was right. Sunderland were said to balk at the £10m fee demanded so back south he came.

 

Hutton's time at the Lane has not been the happiest. Redknapp preferred the slow but steady presence of Corluka last year, apparently having his mind made up when Spurs drew 4-4 with Arsenal in one of his first games in charge. You will recall how for the fourth Arsenal goal he sloppily conceded possession, and Harry seemingly didn;t fancy him from then on in. He went way down the pecking order. And the Glaswegian was apparently not overly keen to move to Spurs in the first place - the transfer negotiations in January 2008 were protracted as he was settled at Ibrox.

 

Yet now things are looking good. His marvellous strike in the 4-2 defeat at Bolton last week showed a growing confidence and an improvement in his attacking intent and with no Lennon - the winger's hamstring is sore - Spurs were hoping Hutton would drive forward as van der Vaart, playing on the right of the midfield today, couldn't help but come inside in search of the ball.

 

Hutton did so: former Spurs Pascal Chimbonda had his work cut out on five to force the defender overlapping and getting into the box. Moments later he showed his defensive steel with a neat tackle and turn on Pedersen.

But he had to be on top of his game. It quickly became obvious that van der Vaat was simply going to go where ever the mood took him, and time and again Hutton found Chimbonda galloping at him from the space where a right winger would normally be patrolling. While the jury has been out on his defensive qualitites, there has been a marked improvement since he has had a run of games. He showed thorugh out the 90 he was capable of dealing with whatever was thrown at him.

 

The opener on 15 came from an unlikely source. 'We never score from corners' is a common moan, and after six in the first quarter of an hour, it seemed to ring true again. However, after a break by Modric forced a corner on the right, van der Vaart's quickly taken ball to the near post was met by Bale. His firm header left Robinson with no chance. 

 

Spurs continued to press and were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty on 25 when Modric was felled in the box, and then Bale left the Blackburn right in his slipstream and his wonderful cross was inches away from Crouch's head. Pavlyuchenko also had a golden opportunity to increase the lead when he went clean through but scooped his effort wide.

 

Spurs perserved. A neat run by Jermain Jenas took him into the box and this time the ref pointed to the spot - but Pav's shaky 10 minutes continued as he drove it past the keeper's right hand post and into the crowd. Then we saw what the Russian does well: on 40 he burst past Chimbonda and stung Robinson's palms. It provided a fillip: a minute later he rose to meet Bale's cross and it was two. And so it stayed until the hour. Pav was involved in the third, too: he ran on to van der Vaart's neat through ball and while Robinson stopped his shot, he could only palm it into the path of the on rushing Peter Crouch. He finished and it was game over. Bale added a fourth with 20 minutes to go with a neat, low finish after Hutton had forced the ball inside, and  then Blackburn got a consolation when sub David Dunn finished neatly from the edge of the box. With a minute remaining of normal time Givet got another for the visitors: it was a strong shot but Gomes will be wondering whether he should have done better as it was straight down his throat. 

 

Hutton continued through out the second half to keep his sector safe and sound, and get forward to offer support when he was needed. While he lacks steadiness of Corluka, his large frame, his pace and his willingness to go where it hurts means it seems likely it will take an injury to displace him from the starting 11 - a remarkable turn around for the player since the summer, when it seemed he was certainly on his way out.

 

Finally, a word about Paul Robinson - how can he not be moved by the reception given to him by his friends at White Hart Lane? The terraces sung his name and kept up a lively banter with the former Spur through out. It was all rather touching, and he lingered after the final whistle, throwing his gloves into the crowd.

 

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Gomes, 7: Point blank stop from Kalinic on 38 was very brave, two handed save on 66 was just as good. 

 

Hutton, 7: Another steady game - had his hands full with little help mfrom van der Vaart in front of him, but was up to the challenge.

 

Bale, 8: Great header to get Spurs on their way, and a brilliant finish to make things safe. Watching him dash from one end of the pitch the other always gets the crowd on their feet. 

 

Kaboul, 7: Has become a towering presence at the back.

 

Jenas, 7: Neat and tidy in possession - meant the middle did not miss the injured Huddlestone. Some adventurous bursts forward.

 

Pavlyuchenko, 7: Missed a sitter on 25 and a penalty on 31, but later made amends with a brilliant, ghosting move at the back post on 41 to put Spurs two up. Showed neat touches but missed another sitter at the end to make it a rout. Should have had four.

 

van der Vaart, 7: Roamed with good effect. Sub: Palacios

 

Gallas, 7: Solid. Enjoyed the rough and tumble against Jason Roberts

 

Modric, 8: Super movement, an energetic performance from start to finish.

Crouch, 6: His perserverence made the third but didn't have enough efforts on goal for a centre forward. 

 

Assou-Ekotto, 6: A niggler, biter, fighter - just what Bale needs behind him to let him confidently go forth and cause chaos.

 

Subs: Cudicini, Bentley, Palacios, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka, Sandro