Spurs beat stuttering Villa

Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent dealt another blow to Aston Villa's Champions League hopes as Tottenham won 2-1 at Villa Park.

Jenas broke the deadlock after five minutes and Bent added his 15th goal of the campaign five minutes into the second period to ease Spurs' relegation fears.

Villa have now gone seven games without a win in all competitions and have dropped out of the top four of the Barclays Premier League for the first time since early December. All they could manage was a late consolation effort from substitute John Carew.

Jenas stunned the home side by putting Tottenham ahead with his third goal of the campaign after just five minutes.

Aaron Lennon supplied the right-wing centre which was palmed out at full stretch by Brad Friedel - but Jenas was the first to react and headed home.

Villa tried to respond and Stiliyan Petrov was only just too high with a dipping 25-yard effort. Then Ashley Young sent in a probing cross to the near post which Emile Heskey was first to react to but deflected wide.

Friedel prevented Spurs from doubling their lead when he parried a fierce shot from Luka Modric after he had latched on to a reverse pass from Jenas.

Emile Heskey headed against the bar in the closing seconds of the half from a deep Gareth Barry centre. But after 50 minutes Bent doubled Spurs lead with his 15th goal of the campaign.

Friedel turned aside a first time effort from Wilson Palacios but Robbie Keane was first to react to the rebound and his cross cum shot was turned home at the far post by Bent.

With five minutes remaining Carew reduced the arrears when he headed in a centre from James Milner for his 11th goal of the season, but the damage had already been done.