Two Harry Kane goals in the space of three minutes either side of half time helped Tottenham Hotspur to a routine 2-0 win over basement boys Aston Villa this afternoon.
Spurs were denied by a string of Brad Guzan saves prior to making the eventual breakthrough, but once ahead they remained in control and saw the job through with ease.
A first win in four for the Lilywhites sees the gap on Premier League leaders Leicester City close to just two points, ahead of the Foxes' meeting with Newcastle United on Monday evening.
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An opening 45 minutes dominated by the visitors got underway with Kane clipping the crossbar less than four minutes in, after getting on the end of Erik Lamela's through-ball but failing to get the better of Guzan.
That battle would continue throughout the contest, as Kane was thwarted by his direct rival once more soon after when this time latching on to Danny Rose's cross from the left.
Dele Alli, one of seven players to return to the Spurs starting lineup this afternoon, also tested Guzan with a somewhat weaker attempt from range as the one-way feel to the game continued.
An inspired Guzan was very much proving the difference, denying Kane yet again from close range just short of the half-hour mark, before getting a touch on Lamela's close-range drive to help the ball onto the upright for a second time.
Villa's goal was living a charmed life of sorts up until this point yet, while Spurs had solely enjoyed all of the half's big chances, the Villans finally got a shot away of their own when Rudy Gestede picked out Hugo Lloris with his side-footed finish.
Just when the first half looked to be drawing to a goalless end, Kane finally got the better of Guzan when tucking the ball home with a smart finish after Alli's quick thinking from a free kick.
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Kane's 18th league goal of another personal season to remember finally gave the Lilywhites a lead to build on, and the Englishman was able to increase his tally just three minutes after restart.
The goal followed a similar route to the first as Alli's pass, this time from a left-sided cross, found its way to Kane who quickly adjusted his body shape to fire into the roof of the net.
It could have been three ten minutes later when Walker capitalised on the acres of space afforded to him by getting in a shot of his own, which Guzan was happy to turn behind at the expense of a corner.
With Villa heading for a fifth defeat on the bounce, and an inevitable relegation into the second tier, Remi Garde perhaps began turning attention towards next season by bringing on academy product Andre Green for his league debut.
Kane's second goal, which took him alongside Jamie Vardy in the Premier League scoring charts, essentially ended the match as a contest with Spurs unable to create any further clear-cut openings.
Lamela saw his shot deflect wide when getting on the end of a stray ball just inside the box, while those remaining Villa fans almost had something to cheer late on when Jordan Ayew hit the post at the end of a slaloming move through the area.
Gestede should have fired home from the rebound, only for his shot from a few yards out to cannon back off the crossbar to round off another disappointing afternoon for the hosts.
Villa, with just one win in nine against their opponents now, remain nine points from safety with time fast ticking down to reduce the deficit at the bottom.
Daniel Lewis
