On a bitterly cold North London night, Tottenham ensured their safe progression into the hat for the FA Cup 4th round draw on Sunday (3:25pm GMT)

Reverting to a 4-4-2 system rarely deployed this season, Spurs looked far more dangerous than they were against West Brom at the back end of 2008. Redknapp may have gone with this system in the knowledge that another striker is sure to be added sooner rather than later in the January transfer window.

If the Park Lane crowd have their way, a certain Jermain Defoe will make a quick return from Fratton Park, to link up once again with former boss, Redknapp. At times, it was clear why the crowd fervently sung Defoe's name, in the first half, Bent and Pavlyuchenko often getting in each other's way. Darren Bent will certainly have heard Defoe's name ringing out as he was forced off just over half way through the first half, due to injury, and replaced by the ever lively Frazier Campbell. Campbell added urgency to the Spurs frontline, and showed a better understanding with Pavlyuchenko, leading to more frequent shots on goal.

Luka Modric, after a slow start in England, is looking ever more like the player that led to Spurs forking out a sizeable £15.8 million on the diminutive Croation playmaker. At close inspection, it is easy to see why Redknapp and national manager Slaven Bilic rate him so highly - always in control of the ball, always aware of players around him, he rarely gave the ball away, and worked hard in and out of possession. Modric played well in a more conventional central-midfield role, surely raising Redknapp's hopes that he can revert back to his preferred 4-4-2 formation permanently with the addition of another striker.

Bale and O'Hara linked well down the left side of midfield, working the Wigan centre-backs with their crosses. It was in fact, a mishit O'Hara cross that found its way to Modric, via a Pavlyuchenko dummy, that caused the biggest problem for the Wigan defence. Modric, who perhaps should have laid the ball off to an unmarked David Bentley, swivelled and tried to outsmart goalkeeper, Richard Kingson with a reverse shot. Slightly mis-cued it was never going to trouble Kingson.

Bale had to wave Bentley away from a promising free-kick, suited to a left-footer, and after much fanfare, missed narrowly - although from the Shelf Side, the free-kick looked closer than replays suggested. Right at the end of the first half, Bentley had a decent left-footed effort on goal, comfortably covered by Kingson.

Spurs were looking dangerous, but were still lacking precision with their final ball and their shooting. Much of the same followed in the early parts of the second-half, with the Spurs faithful growing restless.

Eventually, it took a speculative through ball, which Campbell raced onto, flicking past Kingson, and being brought down by the keeper's outstretched arm, which provided the initial breakthrough. Up stepped Pavlyuchenko, up to this point, given a hard time by the home support, and he found the bottom left-corner with a well taken penalty.

Spurs pressed for a second, and it came in comical circumstances after O'Hara's well struck shot had cannoned back off the post. Luka Modric, strewn on the floor after losing his footing barely knew about the shot, but his head was in the right place at the right time for one of the more bizarre goals scored this season.

Wigan Athletic, depleted by injuries to key players, Chris Kirkland, Emile Heskey, and Amr Zaki, never looked too threatening aside from one good headed chance from Henri Camara in the first half, and their late consolation in the second, again from Camara, more down to a lapse in defensive concentration, than anything else. The handful of Wigan fans could just about be heard sensing a last gasp equaliser. As they pressed a nervous looking Spurs defence, Tottenham's midfield broke, and Zokora found Pavlyuchenko, whose weak shot squirmed past Kingson.

Roman Pavlyuchenko did not have the "sublime" game that the BBC report might suggest, a piece of lazy journalism at any rate, but he did find the net twice. He is certainly cutting a happier figure than the lost little boy look he had with Juande Ramos at the helm.

He still played a couple of outrageously poor passes, which indicates he is still not on the same wavelength with teammates. He did enough however, to suggest he has got a lot more in his locker to really get going next season. His vision was underlined by a fantastic crossfield ball into David Bentley's path on the right of midfield, which created a decent headed opening for Frazier Campbell.

On a final note, the reception that Hossam Ghaly received was juvenile at best. Of course what he did two years ago was wrong, but it was two years ago. If nothing else, Redknapp will want to give him some game time so he can sell him in the January transfer window.

Spurs prevail in the cup again, but will it be at the expense of league form?