Crouch's hat-trick sees off Preston.

CARLING CUP Preston 1 Tottenham 5 PETER CROUCH made the most of only his third start of the season by claiming a clinical hat-trick to ease Tottenham into the last 16 of the Carling Cup.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp made seven changes for the third-round tie and Crouch (right) emerged as the prime beneficiary as his predatory strikes took his season tally to five.

He made the most of his recall in the 14th minute when he dispatched Gareth Bale's deep cross with a fine volley and Jermain Defoe effectively finished Preston off with a predatory header seven minutes before half-time, but there were plenty more goals to come.

With 13 minutes remaining, Crouch tapped home Aaron Lennon's low cross to add further gloss to a fine night for Spurs, who were given several scares by Alan Irvine's high-flying Coca-Cola Championship outfit.

cat Preston lacked nothing in spirit, and pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute through substitute Chris Brown.

However, Spurs substitute Robbie Keane added a fourth for Spurs with three minutes remaining and Crouch completed his treble with a cheeky back-heel in injury-time.