Tottenham earned their fourth straight Premier League victory as second-half goals from Steven Caulker and Aaron Lennon saw off Aston Villa.

After a subdued first half where Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe went close, Villa's Christian Benteke headed wide before Caulker gave Spurs the lead.

It was fortunate, as Defoe controlled Bale's corner at the back post before his shot deflected in off Caulker.

Villa-Boas commends Spurs' form

But Lennon's strike nine minutes later sealed the win with a touch of class.

It was the winger's first goal for nine months, adding to Caulker's first for the club, and Spurs could have made it 3-0 when Bale hit the post late on.

Their task was made much easier when Villa were reduced to 10 men, having used all their substitutes, following a serious-looking injury to left-back Joe Bennett with 13 minutes left.

The former Middlesbrough player was taken off on a stretcher after he and Bale chased the ball to the goal-line and crashed into the advertising hoardings.

Villa are still to win away from home this season, while Andre-Villas Boas' team remain unbeaten at White Hart Lane and move to fifth in the table.

Other than the two goals in a nine-minute period, the game was no classic but it made for a comfortable Premier League debut for Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris, who ended Brad Friedel's incredible record of 310 consecutive Premier League games.

Lloris was rarely tested, although a poor throw did contribute to Villa's best chance, but questions will remain about Villa boss Paul Lambert's use of striker Darren Bent.

Friedel's run comes to end

  • The last time Brad Friedel missed a Premier League game for a club was during his spell at Blackburn in May 2004
  • Friedel's run is by far the longest-ever sequence of consecutive Premier League appearances - the next highest is Tim Howard's current effort of 190

The England forward started the game on the bench, having scored last week against West Brom, and he would have watched in horror as Benteke headed off-target just before Spurs went ahead.

Villa struggled to cope with Tottenham's initial threat down the left, with right-winger Lennon seeing more of the ball as the half wore on, but Villas-Boas's side failed to test Brad Guzan significantly.

At one stage the American keeper darted out of the box to intercept a Spurs through ball, but did well to avoid clipping the advancing Bale, who was lucky not to be booked as he went to ground.

The visitors rode the Spurs swell of pressure and came more into the game as Gabriel Agbonlahor cut in from the left to receive the ball with Lloris quick to close the Villa forward down when he was put through, and the France international keeper also punched Benteke's effort away.

Benteke then twice went close after the break, first shooting straight at Lloris and then heading wide from Marc Albrighton's cross when Spurs' France international keeper had given the ball away.

Those near misses seemed to spark Tottenham, however, and after Defoe had shot narrowly wide following a quick break Spurs took the lead.

Villa must take chances - Lambert

From a deep corner from the right, Defoe controlled the ball at the back post and fired towards goal but with the ball heading wide it clipped off Caulker's heel for his first Premier League goal.

Bent was eventually introduced, alongside Charles N'Zogbia, but they barely had time to break sweat before Tottenham went further ahead when Lennon ran straight at Bennett and smashed a shot into the far corner.

Once Villa's full-back went off there was little chance for them to alter the course of the game, and Spurs are now beginning to build real momentum.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert: "We were well in the game, and had two brilliant chances through Christian Benteke. He has to score one of the two of them, especially away from home; he has to hit the target from the header.

"I've said that to him you have to score those at this level but he's a young player and he will learn every day."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Tottenham Hotspur

  • 25 Lloris
  • 05 Vertonghen
  • 13 Gallas
  • 28 Walker Booked
  • 33 Caulker
  • 02 Dempsey (Sigurdsson - 82' )
  • 07 Lennon (Townsend - 86' )
  • 11 Bale
  • 30 Sandro
  • 18 Defoe (Adebayor - 68' )
  • 19 Dembele

Substitutes

  • 24 Friedel
  • 20 Dawson
  • 06 Huddlestone
  • 22 Sigurdsson
  • 27 Falque
  • 31 Townsend
  • 10 Adebayor

Aston Villa

  • 22 Guzan
  • 04 Vlaar
  • 06 Clark
  • 27 Bennett Booked
  • 34 Lowton
  • 08 El Ahmadi Booked
  • 12 Albrighton (Bent - 66' )
  • 16 Delph Booked (N'Zogbia - 66' )
  • 11 Agbonlahor
  • 14 Holman (Bannan - 73' )
  • 20 Benteke

Substitutes

  • 01 Given
  • 30 Lichaj
  • 10 N'Zogbia
  • 15 Westwood
  • 25 Bannan
  • 09 Bent
  • 26 Weimann
Ref: Swarbrick
Att: 35,802

Match Stats

Shots

23 8

On target

10 5

Corners

8 0

Fouls

7 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:20 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:32

Mousa Dembele has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.

90:00 +2:43

Andros Townsend crosses the ball, Matthew Lowton manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +0:29

Andros Townsend has a shot on goal from long range that goes wide left.

89:36

Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot. Blocked by Ciaran Clark.

87:10

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Save made by Bradley Guzan.

86:31

The ball is sent over by Charles N'Zogbia, Raniere Sandro manages to make a clearance.

85:41 Substitution

Substitution Andros Townsend replaces Aaron Lennon.

84:51

Gylfi Sigurdsson takes a shot.

81:30 Substitution

Substitution Gylfi Sigurdsson is brought on as a substitute for Clint Dempsey.

81:19

Gareth Bale has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

80:24

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Save by Bradley Guzan.

78:30

The official flags Gareth Bale offside. Bradley Guzan takes the free kick.

77:40

Inswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale, clearance made by Matthew Lowton.

74:22

Clint Dempsey has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

73:48

Matthew Lowton takes a shot. William Gallas gets a block in.

72:36

Indirect free kick taken by Barry Bannan.

72:36 Substitution

Substitution (Aston Villa) makes a substitution, with Barry Bannan coming on for Brett Holman.

72:36 Booking

Booking The referee shows Kyle Walker a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

72:30

Unfair challenge on Brett Holman by Kyle Walker results in a free kick.

71:53

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Gareth Bale, clearance made by Christian Benteke.

71:42

Centre by Jan Vertonghen, clearance by Ciaran Clark.

70:52

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Blocked by Emmanuel Adebayor.

70:24

Centre by Gareth Bale, Ciaran Clark manages to make a clearance.

70:00

Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Blocked by Ciaran Clark.

69:11

Inswinging corner from right by-line crossed in by Gareth Bale, Ciaran Clark manages to make a clearance.

67:41 Substitution

Substitution (Tottenham) makes a substitution, with Emmanuel Adebayor coming on for Jermain Defoe.

66:30

Assist on the goal came from Clint Dempsey.

66:30 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron Lennon - Tottenham 2 - 0 A Villa Aaron Lennon finds the net with a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa.

65:03

Free kick taken by Ron Vlaar.

65:03 Substitution

Substitution Fabian Delph goes off and Charles N'Zogbia comes on.

65:03 Substitution

Substitution Darren Bent replaces Marc Albrighton.

65:03

Jan Vertonghen concedes a free kick for a foul on Ron Vlaar.

63:53

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Bradley Guzan makes a save.

63:44

Aaron Lennon produces a cross, Ron Vlaar makes a clearance.

63:31

Jermain Defoe crosses the ball, Joe Bennett makes a clearance.

62:11

Gabriel Agbonlahor produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

61:47

Effort on goal by Jermain Defoe from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

57:20

The assist for the goal came from Jermain Defoe.

57:20 Goal scored

Goal - Steven Caulker - Tottenham 1 - 0 A Villa Steven Caulker scores a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Tottenham 1-0 Aston Villa.

57:08

Outswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale from the right by-line, Jermain Defoe takes a shot.

56:04

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Gareth Bale, Ciaran Clark manages to make a clearance.

56:04 Booking

Booking The referee shows Karim El Ahmadi a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

55:58

Foul by Karim El Ahmadi on Aaron Lennon, free kick awarded.

54:53

Jermain Defoe produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

52:25

Clint Dempsey fouled by Ciaran Clark, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Gareth Bale.

51:52

Headed effort from inside the area by Christian Benteke misses to the right of the target.

51:06

Foul by Jan Vertonghen on Karim El Ahmadi, free kick awarded. The ball is delivered by Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar takes a shot. Save by Hugo Lloris.

50:30

The official flags Christian Benteke offside. Kyle Walker restarts play with the free kick.

49:40

Matthew Lowton delivers the ball, William Gallas manages to make a clearance.

48:27

A cross is delivered by Gareth Bale, clearance made by Ron Vlaar.

48:12

Kyle Walker takes a shot. Ciaran Clark gets a block in.

47:26

Shot from outside the penalty box by Jan Vertonghen goes wide right of the goal.

46:34

Kyle Walker takes the free kick.

46:34 Booking

Booking Joe Bennett goes into the book.

46:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Bennett on Aaron Lennon.

46:07

Christian Benteke takes a shot. Save by Hugo Lloris.

45:34

Foul by Clint Dempsey on Ciaran Clark, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Ron Vlaar.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:33 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +2:03

Raniere Sandro challenges Brett Holman unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Lowton takes the indirect free kick.

43:57

Mousa Dembele challenges Matthew Lowton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marc Albrighton delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Hugo Lloris.

42:35

Free kick awarded for a foul by Karim El Ahmadi on Aaron Lennon. Kyle Walker restarts play with the free kick.

41:10

William Gallas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christian Benteke. Marc Albrighton crosses the ball in from the free kick, Steven Caulker makes a clearance.

39:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Christian Benteke on Raniere Sandro. Indirect free kick taken by Kyle Walker.

36:56

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Blocked by Ron Vlaar.

33:14

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clint Dempsey by Fabian Delph. A cross is delivered by Gareth Bale, Shot by Jan Vertonghen from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

31:51

Inswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale from the right by-line.

31:14

Outswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale, Christian Benteke makes a clearance.

30:45

Christian Benteke concedes a free kick for a foul on Raniere Sandro. Kyle Walker takes the free kick.

30:31

Centre by William Gallas, Karim El Ahmadi makes a clearance.

29:39

Jermain Defoe produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

28:53

The official flags Christian Benteke offside. Free kick taken by Hugo Lloris.

26:10

The free kick is delivered left-footed by Gareth Bale from left channel, clearance by Christian Benteke.

26:10 Booking

Booking Booking for Fabian Delph for unsporting behaviour.

26:00

Unfair challenge on Mousa Dembele by Fabian Delph results in a free kick.

22:49

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Gareth Bale played to the near post, Karim El Ahmadi manages to make a clearance.

22:41

Gareth Bale sends in a cross, clearance by Ron Vlaar.

21:17

The ball is crossed by Marc Albrighton, clearance made by William Gallas.

20:46

Christian Benteke takes a shot. Hugo Lloris makes a save.

18:49

Joe Bennett crosses the ball, William Gallas manages to make a clearance.

18:19

Centre by Gabriel Agbonlahor, Steven Caulker makes a clearance.

17:34

Aaron Lennon sends in a cross, Ron Vlaar manages to make a clearance.

16:11

Fabian Delph concedes a free kick for a foul on Clint Dempsey. Mousa Dembele takes the indirect free kick.

14:11

Outswinging corner taken by Gareth Bale from the left by-line played to the near post, Christian Benteke makes a clearance.

13:55

Fabian Delph delivers the ball, clearance by Jan Vertonghen.

12:21

Gabriel Agbonlahor takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caulker.

11:07

Long range shot from Karim El Ahmadi misses to the left of the goal.

9:39

Jermain Defoe takes a shot. Save made by Bradley Guzan.

6:26

Marc Albrighton produces a cross, Kyle Walker manages to make a clearance.

5:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Lowton on Gareth Bale. Gareth Bale delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.

3:32

The referee blows for offside against Marc Albrighton. Indirect free kick taken by Jan Vertonghen.

1:54

The referee blows for offside against Jermain Defoe. Bradley Guzan restarts play with the free kick.

1:54

Jermain Defoe is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Bradley Guzan takes the free kick.

0:24

Gareth Bale produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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