TO JUDGE FROM THE BARCELONA colours on show at White Hart Lane, the Catalans are the second-most popular team in this part of North London. With this win, Tottenham Hotspur could be just a moment of Ronaldinho brilliance away from the thrill of being in the Champions League at Arsenal’s expense.

Martin Jol, the Spurs head coach, criticised the Uefa ruling that means Arsenal will be in next season’s Champions League if they win the trophy and Spurs finish above their rivals. “Why should that cost us our place?” he said.

First, though, finish fourth. Anything less than three points yesterday would have put that in severe doubt, but now Spurs are seven points clear of Arsenal, who have three matches still to play. If that seems a comfortable lead, it was not secured in a comfortable fashion.

Bolton Wanderers were more composed and inventive and aside from giving the ball to Aaron Lennon, Spurs had few ideas. Not that feeding Lennon was a bad plan: it won Spurs the match. Just before the hour, Michael Carrick dribbled into the area and slipped a pass to Lennon who took the ball to the edge of the six-yard box and drilled a shot into the corner.

Sven-Göran Eriksson, in the stands, must have noted that the 19-year-old Lennon is, like Wayne Rooney, someone who can be predicted to do the unpredictable.

The home fans pushed his case, chanting “Lennon for England”, and he responded with a great run from just inside the opposition half after the break. His skyward shot lacked any composure, which articulated the main argument against calling him up: that he may be too raw for Eriksson’s taste.

The Swede’s presence at Middlesbrough’s Uefa Cup semi-final second leg suggests he is seriously considering Stewart Downing, but on this evidence Lennon may have moved ahead of the Teessider as a viable back-up if the England head coach dramatically spurns Shaun Wright-Phillips.

“Even when things are not going well you know Aaron is a player who can make a difference,” Jol said. “He can play on the left, in the hole . . . he’s a great asset.”

Without a European Cup campaign since 1960-61 but guaranteed a Uefa spot next term, Spurs have qualified for Europe via the league for the first time in 23 years. Bolton’s prospects of reaching the Uefa Cup now seem remote. “This has nearly killed it,” Sam Allardyce, the manager, said.

With 16 minutes left of a match that Bolton dominated in the first half, Alan Wiley, the referee, failed to give what seemed an indisputable penalty when Michael Dawson manhandled Stelios Giannakopoulos. The Greece winger looked likely to score and Dawson’s manoeuvre would have brought censure in the world of professional wrestling, let alone football. “Because it’s so blatant I have to criticise the referee publicly,” Allardyce said. “Absolutely baffling.”

Before kick-off, cheers echoed around White Hart Lane as footage of Arsène Wenger remonstrating with Jol during the previous week’s North London derby twinkled on the big screens. Jol was presumably inspired by the Arsenal manager when he said of the Dawson incident: “I haven’t seen it yet.” Cue smile.