Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur in a 4-0 win over Young Boys in the second leg of their qualifier to see them through to the Champions League group stages.

Crouch gave Spurs the perfect start when he headed home Gareth Bale’s cross with just five minutes on the clock to level on aggregate.

And it got even better for Harry Redknapp’s men just after the half-hour mark when Jermain Defoe latched on to Bale’s cross and superbly fired in off the post to put Spurs ahead on aggregate.

Defoe should have stretched the lead further when Aaron Lennon slipped him through, but he put his shot wide, while Crouch was denied from close range after the break.

Crouch did not have to wait much longer for his second, though, when he powered home a header from a corner just after the hour mark.

And after Senad Lulic saw red for a foul on the impressive Bale, Crouch completed his treble from the spot and sealed a 6-3 aggregate win.

Crouch immediately targeted Europe’s biggest names after his hat-trick.

“This is massive, we played extremely well and we deserved the bonus of Champions League football,” Crouch told ITV1.

“That’s why we worked so hard last season. We want massive games. We want Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

“You don’t know how good you are until you play against the best.”

Defoe, who is set for an injury lay-off after postponing an operation to take part in the match, added: “All the hard work we put in last season has paid off now. This means the world to us.

“It’s all about Champions League football. We know we can play on this stage.”

Manager Harry Redknapp described the achievement as his dream scenario when he arrived at White Hart Lane.

“It’s fantastic, it’s a long time since Tottenham played in the top European competition,” he said.

“To get in the main competition and the group stages…when I came here that was the dream for me.”

Spurs can now look forward to some handsome funds from the group stages, but Redknapp has no plans to spend lavishly before the end of the transfer window.

“I don’t think so, people think I like to keep signing players, that’s not true at all. I always wanted a squad where I don’t need to sign players.

“I won’t be pushing the chairman to buy players, not at all. Unless we can really improve the squad we’ll sit tight.”

Redknapp also suggested that Defoe would be going under the knife next week as planned, despite some suggestions to the contrary from the striker.”

“Yesterday they said he’d have to have the operation. He’s booked in as far as I know so unless there’s a change of plan I don’t know, I’m not a medical man.”

Source: football365.com

Pic: supersport.co.za