<p>LONDON — Gareth Bale scored a hat trick as Tottenham stayed in the Champions League qualification race with a 4-0 win over relegated Sheffield United on Sunday.</p>
<p>Bale claimed his first treble since returning on loan from Real Madrid for this season, and Son Heung-min also netted, as Tottenham rose to fifth place — five points behind Chelsea with four games left to play.</p>
<p>Bale took his Premier League tally to eight goals in the last eight games, but with that must come a sense of what might have been this season.</p>
<p>Bale was under-used by former manager Jose Mourinho, even when he had regained peak condition. Playing with freedom in a front four with Harry Kane, Son and Dele Alli, Spurs were a constant threat and a far cry from the pragmatic style that dogged Mourinho’s era.</p>
<p>It may have come too late to gatecrash the top four this season, but playing like this makes them a strong bet to finish in a Europa League spot under interim manager Ryan Mason.</p>
<p>The onslaught started early as Son forced Aaron Ramsdale into a smart stop, with the Blades goalkeeper getting a strong hand to a low shot that was heading into the bottom corner.</p>
<p>Kane, on the march for a third Premier League golden boot, uncharacteristically missed two chances he would normally convert, first seeing a shot blocked after slaloming into the area and then sending Sergio Reguilon’s pullback embarrassingly over.</p>
<p>But Spurs finally went ahead in the 36th minute with a moment of quality.</p>
<p>Bale broke from deep to latch on to Serge Aurier’s ball over the top and then sent it past Ramsdale with a cute finish with the outside of his boot.</p>
<p>The Wales international was back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the League Cup final and delivered his 12th goal in all competitions.</p>
<p>Spurs were cursing VAR twice in the opening seven minutes of the second half.</p>
<p>First Peter Bankes ruled that John Fleck did not commit violent conduct when he appeared to stamp on Giovani Lo Celso’s face and then VAR ruled out a goal by Son, judging the South Korean’s armpit to be in an offside position when he ran on to Toby Alderweireld’s long ball.</p>
<p>The hosts were not denied for long, however, as they did double their lead just after the hour with a devastating counterattack.</p>
<p>After clearing Sheffield United’s corner, Son evaded two challenges and sent Bale clear on goal, with the Welshman delivering an emphatic finish into the top corner.</p>
<p>Bale, whose future next season remains unclear, then completed his hat trick with another moment of quality, drilling in a low effort after a fine team move which involved Alli and Aurier.</p>
<p>Bale’s treble was of a high standard, but Son may lay claim to scoring the goal of the night with 13 minutes remaining.</p>
<p>Son received the ball on the left from Steven Bergwijn, cut inside and sent a curling effort from 20 yards in off the far post.</p>
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