Bale inspires Spurs success at Swansea

The latest instalment of the Gareth Bale show helped Tottenham climb to third in the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory at Swansea.

The Welshman teed up Jan Vertonghen for Spurs' opener in the seventh minute, before brilliantly rifling home his 27th of the season for club and country to double the lead.

Michu got his 20th of the campaign after the break to set up a frantic final 20 minutes, but Andre Villas-Boas' side held out to get their Champions League push firmly back on track after back-to-back defeats against Liverpool and Fulham.

Swansea have now lost their last three since reaching the 40-point mark with victory over Newcastle but Michael Laudrup's men will feel they deserved a point.

Wales international Bale, who scored here for his country in midweek, produced a sublime lofted pass to catch Dwight Tiendalli out of position and play in Vertonghen. The Belgian brilliantly brought the ball down and slotted beyond the advancing Michel Vorm to give the visitors the lead.

Emmanuel Adebayor then fired tamely at Vorm but the lead was doubled in the 21st minute courtesy of a supreme finish from Bale.

Vertonghen found the forward on the edge of the Swansea box, where he took one touch before dispatching an unstoppable strike past a statuesque Vorm.

Nathan Dyer missed a gilt-edged chance after 35 minutes when he smashed his header against the bar from just four yards.

But Michu gave the Swans hope as he found the net for the first time since the Capital One Cup final after 70 minutes.

Substitute Ki Sung-yueng delivered a superb corner and the Spaniard made no mistake as he directed a header in off the far post but Spurs held out for a valuable victory.