Bale strikes to boost Spurs' Champions League bid

English player of the year Gareth Bale scored a spectacular late winner to boost Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League hopes with a 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa also celebrated late wins to improve their chances of avoiding relegation to the Championship.

Bale cut inside from the right and held off a defender before firing in from 25 yards in the 86th minute against his former club Southampton.

Spurs climbed above Arsenal, who play Queens Park Rangers in the day's late kickoff, into fourth place in the standings, level on 65 points with Chelsea and one ahead of Arsenal.

Callum McManaman pounced in the 80th minute at the Hawthorns to give Wigan a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion after they had twice fallen behind.

Villa left Carrow Road with a 2-1 triumph over Norwich City courtesy of Gabriel Agbonlahor's double, including the 89th-minute winner.

Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw at West Ham United, leaving the Magpies three points above the relegation zone.

Wigan are third bottom on 35 points, two points behind Sunderland, who play Stoke City on Monday.

Villa moved up to 14th place with 40 points, pushing Norwich into trouble on 38.

Second-placed Manchester City drew 0-0 at Swansea City and relegated Reading won 4-2 at Fulham.

Chelsea travel to champions Manchester United on Sunday.

Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters