The appointment of a new manager can't come soon enough, with this Latics' seventh defeat on the spin. Spurs took the lead in the 13th minute, Robbie Keane the provider when he tricked his way along the by-line and crossed low into the middle.

Chris Kirkland got a glove to the ball but could only palm it into the path of Jenas who poked home from close range. Jenas netted his second after 26 minutes, running on to Berbatov's through ball, rounding Kirkland and shooting into an unguarded net.

Spurs' third goal came 11 minutes before the interval, Berbatov controlling a long ball on the right side of the box and knocking it inside to Lennon whose right-foot volley bounced past Kirkland into the far corner.

It was mainly one-way traffic after the break, Kirkland saving well from Lennon after he cut in from the wing. Bent made it 4-0 in the 72nd minute, latching on to Jenas' pass and firing home a low shot off the inside of the far post.

Late on, Kirkland tipped Berbatov's shot against the bar, Kaboul's follow up also striking the woodwork before the ball was cleared by a relieved Latics defence. Latics' only shot on target in the game came four minutes from time, Antoine Sibierski's low effort comforatbly gathered by Paul Robinson.

Barlow issued a public apology to the travelling Latics supporters yesterday. They trailed 3-0 by half-time, and Tottenham added a fourth in the second half to wrap up a comprehensive victory.

Barlow said: "We apologise to our fans for that first 45 minutes. It wasn't what we had talked about and certainly not what we had planned. Once we went behind, it was always going to be difficult. But don't take anything away from Spurs – they played very well.”

"We think we have a decent enough dressing room to stay in the league, and we are optimistic we can do that. But we have to pull ourselves together and stop this slide as soon as possible.”

"We have to try to regain some of the confidence which we have lost in the last few weeks.

By Jason Taylor (www.cockneylatic.co.uk)