Harry Winks lobs Ludogorets goalkeeper from 56 YARDS out in Tottenham’s comfortable Europa League win… but did the Spurs midfielder mean to score or was he looking for Gareth …

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Harry Winks scored a stunning 56-yard goal in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Ludogorets in Thursday’s Europa League tie, though the Spurs man admitted he didn’t mean the strike. 

Mid-way through the second-half with the north Londoners winning 2-0, the Spurs midfielder collected the ball from Ben Davies’ throw-in before lobbing goalkeeper Plamen Iliev from just inside the opposition half. 

Despite taking the acclaim for the strike, Winks was honest in his post-match interview by claiming he was attempting to pick out Gareth Bale who had made a run into the penalty area.  

© Provided by Daily Mail Harry Winks scored from 56 yards out in Tottenham’s 4-0 win over Ludogorets on Thursday © Provided by Daily Mail The Spurs midfielder lobbed goalkeeper Plamen Iliev (above) from just inside his own half

Winks told BT Sport: ‘You know I would love to say that I did, but I didn’t mean it no. I saw Gaz (Bale) running and making that run. I will take it as it’s a goal at the end of the day. 

The goal was not only Winks’ first of the season but it also sealed a relatively easy challenge presented by Ludogorets for Jose Mourinho’s side. 

The Spurs boss joked he was not happy with Winks’ revelation that he did not mean to score the goal, suggesting he should have lied to take all the plaudits. 

Mourinho told BT in his post-match interview: ‘He’s too honest, I’m not happy with him! I told him, a goal like that you have to say that you want to do it. But he’s a good kid, honest and he told the truth. 

Spurs already had a two-goal advantage from Carlos Vinicius’ first two strikes in the white of Tottenham, with exiled midfielder Dele Alli providing assists for both efforts.

© Provided by Daily Mail Winks (left) collected a throw-in from Ben Davies before his looping effort found the net

Brazilian winger Lucas Moura crashed home a fourth after Winks’ spectacular effort in the second-half.  

Spurs also gave the chance to rest some of their first-team stars such as Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-Min, with the likes of Alfie Whiteman, Jack Clarke, Dane Scarlett and Harvey White coming off the bench for Mourinho’s side. 

The win sees Tottenham tied with Group J leaders Royal Antwerp at the top of the table with nine points, with Austrian club LASK just three points behind Spurs with two games left to play. 

Mourinho’s men face LASK next Thursday which will go a long way to deciding the outcome of knockout qualification, before facing Antwerp in the second week of December to round off the group.  

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