“Genuine top-four challenge” says Mabbutt JD “like a dream.”

Jermain Defoe has described his five-goal haul against Wigan Athletic as “like a dream.”

The Spurs striker was on cloud 9 after Spurs crushed Wigan 9-1 at White Hart Lane, with Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar and David Bentley joining him on the score sheet Jermain said…..

“The most important thing was to win the game, to win 9-1 was brilliant and to score five goals was fantastic,” Defoe told the club’s official site.

With the match ball

“It was a like a dream, brilliant. The lads can’t believe it. The finishing – look at Niko’s finish and David Bentley’s free-kick. All the goals were unbelievable.

“We put them under a lot of pressure in that first 20 minutes and it was a good team effort. I had a couple of shots that were saved well in that first half and Keano said at half-time that a second goal would kill them off.

“We won the game in midfield. The lads were fantastic – we knew we’d get chances.

“The hat-trick goal probably meant the most. Azza got down the line, cut back a great ball and I got across the defender to finish it off. The feeling when you get the third is brilliant.

“It’s important for me to keep my head, go back into training and look ahead to the next game.”

He’s only the fourth Spur to achieve the five-goal feat after Ted Harper (1930), Alf Stokes (1957) and Les Allen (1960).

On a day may fans from both sides will never forget Spurs always looked threatening.

Gary Mabbutt believes Tottenham’s stunning destruction of Wigan provided further proof that his old club are well-placed to mount a genuine top-four challenge this season.

And former Tottenham captain Mabbutt told Sky Sports News there is no reason to believe the so-called big four are out of reach – especially with Rafael Benitez’s side already five points adrift of Harry Redknapp’s.

He said: “How can you urge caution after beating Wigan 9-1? The Spurs fans will enjoy that for a while, though of course there have been a few false dawns over the years.

“I would say that looking at the squad we certainly have the potential to maintain a sustained challenge in the championship.

“This has made everybody else sit up and take notice of Tottenham’s credentials, and if you look over the past few years one of the top four has faltered.

“Three and four years ago it was Arsenal, and Tottenham pushed them all the way and nearly gained a Champions League place, just falling into fifth spot both times.

“Two years ago Everton pushed Liverpool all the way, just missing out. Last year, Arsenal faltered again and Aston Villa really should have taken fourth spot.

“This year it looks like Liverpool are the ones that are struggling and that means Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City – one of those three – has a great opportunity to break into that top four.

“With the form Tottenham are in we’ve got a great chance if we maintain what we’re doing and keep working hard.”