Wigan Athletic 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3

The Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur from DW Stadium on Sunday Feb 21, 2010.

Of course it was never going to be another 9-1 landslide. But while Wigan Athletic were humiliated at White Hart Lane in November, on Sunday at the DW Stadium they had every reason to feel a deep sense of injustice for much of the game before again eventually succumbing to Tottenham Hotspur.

Jermain Defoe was a clear two yards offside when delivering his 22nd goal of the season - his 16th in the Premier League - to lay the foundations for a victory that elevated Spurs back into fourth position.

When Defoe made way for Roman Pavlyuchenko in the 73rd minute the unsettled Russian arrived to score two late goals that confirmed visiting superiority.

However, the Wigan manager Roberto Martinez claimed: "We played with our heart more than our head and in the end were punished by a scoreline we didn't deserve. I think 3-0 was unfair on the players who were not able to adapt to the pitch which was a concern for both sides although we are having this problem addressed by relaying a new surface which will be ready in time for the next home game against Liverpool."

Martinez was bitterly disappointed at what he felt was the vital first goal and he said: "It changed the game although I was pleased at the reaction of my players. There was a feeling of clear frustration and there was no explanation from the officials and I can be disappointed at the referee's performance because it was quite clear Defoe's goal should have been disallowed."

For Tottenham, out of sorts since the departure through injury of Aaron Lennon it was a chance to double their goals total for this year and their margin of success could again have been more emphatic but for the excellence of the home goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland.

Defeat leaves Wigan with just one success in the last 12 encounters, a disastrous run that leaves them facing a fight for survival this spring.

The Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, said: "It was a great performance in difficult conditions and on a difficult pitch. I am really pleased with the attitude because our only stutter in the last few weeks was away to Wolves.

"The offside goal doesn't bother me. I have not seen the replay, but sometimes you get them, other times you don't.

"Then Pavlyuchenko came on to grab two. The fans love him. He's got great ability and when he wants to work and play he possesses great technique."

However, Tottenham's victory was clouded by a further injury to defender Ledley King. He came off with a torn muscle and Redknapp said: "I'm sure it won't be too long before he's back."

There had been little to stir the imagination before Defoe brought the game to life when, from a clear offside position he edged the ball in following an inventive build-up involving Peter Crouch and Niko Krankcar cross on the left by Gareth Bale.

Television replays clearly revealed Defoe's transgression; neither the linesman nor the referee saw the incident.

Earlier David Bentley had supplied the game's only serious attempts, first with a 15th-minute shot straight at Kirkland and three minutes later a deflected attempt that was again straight at the Wigan goalkeeper.

The only home response was a splendid rising drive from Hugo Rodellaga, dispatched after he had played an enterprising one-two with Marcelo Moreno.

Tottenham's second-half domination was such that they again threatened to run riot but failed only because of Kirkland who saved splendidly from Defoe and Crouch before David Bentley then set up Luka Modric whose shot against a post with the rebound fortuitously falling back into the hands of Kirkland.

But Pavlyuchenko settled the game in the 84th minute when finishing clinically when set up by Modric and in injury time the Russian scrambled in the third after his initial header from Tom Huddlestone's free kick had been blocked by Kirkland.