Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has praised Gareth Bale for his match-winning performance against Newcastle United at White Hart Lane.

The Welshman scored twice to reinforce the North London club's claims for a place in the Champions League next season.

Villas-Boas believes that it was his team's second-half performance that swung the game in their favour.

"It was a good win," Villas-Boas told BBC Sport. "Against Newcastle, it was always going to be hard for us.

"In the second half we really stepped up and showed great team spirit to get the three points, so I'm extremely happy for the team.

"These moments of individual brilliance [from Bale] help the team. The best teams in the world count on their best players, and they're able to make the difference for you."

Spurs are just one point off third-placed Chelsea.