Harry Kane brace at Aston Villa sees Tottenham close gap on Premier League leaders Leicester

Harry Kane reignited Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League title challenge with a well-taken double as his side heaped more misery on rock-bottom Aston Villa with a 2-0 win on Sunday.

The prolific England striker took his tally to 22 goals for the season by striking either side of half-time at Villa Park as Spurs moved to within two points of leaders Leicester City, who host Newcastle United on Monday.

It was the perfect answer for the doubters at the end of a week in which Mauricio Pochettino’s side had squandered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal in the north London derby before crashing 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.

“It was a good victory and three important points after a few games that have not been so good,” Spurs manager Pochettino told the BBC.

“We need to keep the pressure on and win games. You cannot stop the dream of the supporters and they are right to dream. But we need to work hard.”

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Kane’s England teammate Dele Alli set up both of his goals, firstly with a quickly taken free-kick on the cusp of half-time and then with a burst down the left wing in the 48th minute.

Spurs exerted pressure on the Villa defence from the outset and should have gone ahead as early as the third minute.