Bale hits hat trick as Tottenham routs Villa 4-0
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Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale celebrates his third goal against Aston Villa during their English Premier League soccer match at Villa Park in Birmingham on Dec 26, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - Gareth Bale scored his first Premier League hat trick as Tottenham routed Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday to climb into the Champions League qualification places.
Jermain Defoe put Tottenham ahead in the 57th minute before Bale netted his goals in 23 minutes.
Tottenham moved into fourth place ahead of Everton and West Bromwich Albion on goal difference and two points behind Chelsea.
Tottenham's goal spree heaped further misery on Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who conceded eight at Chelsea on Sunday.
