Premier League: Tottenham 2 Everton 0

Tottenham drew level on points with second-place Manchester United following a 2-0 victory over Everton at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

In a game rescheduled due to August’s riots, goals from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto either side of half-time ensured Spurs’ surprise title challenge continues to gain momentum.

The win not only means United’s advantage over Harry Redknapp’s side is cut to just goal difference, but it also sees the north London outfit pull away from city rivals Arsenal and Chelsea in the battle for Champions League qualification.

The hosts soon began to settle into their passing game, with the quartet of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart and Emmanuel Adebayor linking up well, but Tottenham’s chances on goal were limited in the opening quarter of an hour as they struggled to penetrate in the final third.

Everton looked to exert pressure in the Tottenham half with a series of corners, but Sylvain Distin’s loose possession nearly proved costly.

The centre-back lost out to van der Vaart, allowing the former Real Madrid man to find Gareth Bale on the break.

The Welshman did well to cut across goal for Adebayor, but the on-loan Manchester City forward elected to take a touch instead of shooting first time, and the chance was gone.

The 27-year-old then saw his penalty appeals waved away by referee Martin Atkinson after tumbling in the box under pressure from Distin.

The hosts would no doubt have been more aggrieved moments later, when the official again ignored Spurs’ calls for a spot-kick – this time Cahill’s clumsy challenge on Modric appeared to be a more legitimate appeal.

The home side broke the deadlock soon after though, and it was to be Assou-Ekotto’s cross field ball that released Lennon for the opening goal.

Lennon was allowed to cut inside from the right-hand flank far too easily by Baines, and took full advantage by driving into the box before slotting the ball past Howard to give Tottenham the lead 10 minutes from half-time.

Spurs should have doubled their advantage just after the restart, with Assou-Ekotto again providing a ball for Lennon, who failed to hit the target with a header from the back-post.

Everton’s misery was compounded half an hour from time as Spurs doubled their lead.

Assou-Ekotto received the ball 30 yards from goal, and with no immediate option in front of him, the former Lens man drilled his left-footed effort past Howard from 30 yards, albeit aided by a Cahill deflection.

Spurs pushed for a third goal in the final half hour, but with Everton barely threatening at the other end, their win and subsequent march up the table was never in doubt.