Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur v QPR - in pictures

Anton Ferdinand has faced more media coverage in the past week than at any prior stage in his career; the allegation that John Terry racially abused him last week is still hanging in the air. Good job then that Ferdinand is a bullish character and looks more than prepared for the rigours of today's match Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

QPR defeated Chelsea by a single goal last weekend, despite being comprehensively outplayed by an opposing team which had only nine men. Today they were comprehensively outplayed by a team which has 11 men. Heck, even if Gareth Bale was their only opponent today he'd probably run them ragged Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Predictably then it's the Welshman who nets the first goal, slamming a crisp shot into the far corner after Aaron Lennon's horizontal run and pass from the right flank had bamboozled the visitors Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Tottenham's second goal is partly a product of fortune and partly a product of instinctive finishing ... it is scored when Ledley King's hopeful shot deflects into the path of Rafael van der Vaart on the edge of the box and the Dutchman sends the keeper the wrong way with a composed side-foot finish. It's 2-0 with 33 minutes gone Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

The former Tottenham protégé Adel Taarabt tries to escape the talons of Scott Parker, but he's not having much joy against his former employers Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Tottenham have enjoyed 65% of the possession so far and QPR just can't get a look in Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Even when QPR win a throw in, Tottenham's fans won't give them the ball. Cheeky stuff ... and probably not the cleverest idea when you're only sat a yard from Joey Barton Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Barton keeps his cool but his manager Neil Warnock doesn't. The QPR boss will be keen to get his players in at half-time with only a two goal deficit Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

QPR emerge with greater purpose in the second half and when Heidar Helguson turns a corner goalwards Jay Bothroyd is able to nod the ball across the goal-line. It's his first goal for the club Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Former Manchester City team-mates Emmanuel Adebayor and Shaun Wright-Phillips enjoy a little wrestle. Maybe someone should tell them there's a game to be won Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

The fun is soon over for QPR as a sweeping exchange of passes between Lennon and Bale culminates in a curling finish by the latter. That's put Spurs 3-1 up and has scuppered any chance of comeback Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

Bale is embraced by Adebayor and Spurs ride out the match to win 3-1. That's lifted them above Liverpool in the table. Only goal difference leaves them below Chelsea and Newcastle who are third and fourth respectively Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images