LONDON, Feb 9: Gareth Bale scored both goals in another virtuoso performance to give Tottenham Hotspur a 2-1 home win over Newcastle United on Saturday and send his side third in the Premier League.

Bale added to the growing belief that he is currently the best player in the Premier League with a superb free-kick to open the scoring early in the first-half before the Wales winger powered through in the 78th to drive home the winning goal and ensure Spurs consolidated their position in the top four.

Bale, one of the Premier League's most exciting talents, has now scored in his last four matches in all competitions and has a career-high 13 in the league this season, almost single-handedly leading Tottenham's charge to a Champions League qualification spot.

Bale struck first with a dipping free kick after five minutes with James Perch failing to jump in the visitors' wall before Lewis Holtby wasted three chances to increase the lead.

Newcastle's French forward Yoan Gouffran then grabbed his first Premier League goal since signing last month when his effort was deflected in midway through the first-half but he later needed oxygen for a leg injury and was substituted.

Spurs had lost their way slightly and introduced Emmanuel Adebayor with the Togo striker finally having returned from the African Nations Cup.

Their pressure eventually paid off when Bale exploded away with his trademark burst of pace before smashing a low strike past the exposed Tim Krul.

Newcastle had a chance to rescue a point deep into stoppage time but Shola Ameobi's close-range effort was turned away by Hugo Lloris.—Agencies