Dominic Solanke at double as Spurs produce brilliant second half to thrash Villa

Dominic Solanke struck a second-half brace to outshine England team-mate Ollie Watkins and fire Tottenham to an emphatic 4-1 home victory over Aston Villa.

Villa started the day with a five-point cushion over Spurs, having beaten the north London club to a top-four spot last season. Went ahead in the 32nd minute when Morgan Rogers poked in from a corner.

It halted the momentum Ange Postecoglou’s side had built in midweek with a fine Carabao Cup triumph over Manchester City. But they were transform in the second half and blew away their midlands rivals.

Captain Son Heung-min set up Brennan Johnson for his seventh goal of the season in the 49th minute before Solanke hit a quick-fire double during the final quarter of an hour after a six-match run without a goal.

James Maddison, a late replacement for substitute Richarlison,

Cap off a great day for Spurs with a stoppage-time free-kick as the hosts moved up to seventh, only two points off Arsenal.

The two teams had contrasting fortunes in the Carabao Cup as Spurs beat City with a near-full-strength XI, while a heavily-rotated Villa side lost to Crystal Palace, but it did mean the visitors were fresher for this latest battle.

Tottenham tried to build a head of steam midway through a dull first half as Rodrigo Bentancur had a dipping effort clip the roof of the net following a succession of corners.