Two goals in the final 10 minutes from Nacer Chadli and Harry Kane gave Spurs victory over Aston Villa yesterday following the dismissal of Christian Benteke.

Andreas Weimann opened the scoring on 16 minutes, ending Villa’s run of five league games without scoring.

Benteke was then sent off midway through the second-half before Chadli equalised for the visitors.

Second half substitute Kane’s free-kick wrapped up the points for the Lilywhites in the dying embers of the game to heap more pressure on Paul Lambert.

Reports on social media over the weekend had suggested that the Villa hierarchy had “tentatively” sounded out Tony Pulis to replace the former Norwich manager.

But it was the home side who had the best of the opening exchanges after Benteke had rattled the woodwork on 14 minutes.

And after 547 minutes without find the back of the net, Weimann guided the ball past Hugo Lloris with the outside of his right boot to give the Villans a much-deserved lead.

Despite looking bereft of ideas, Spurs should have equalised midway through the first half but for an excellent save from Brad Guzan with Emmanual Adebayor bearing down on goal.

Villa Park became a cauldron after the break as tensions began to fray among the players.

Jan Vertonghen was lucky not to be dismissed by referee Neil Swarbrick for a two-footed challenge on Ashley Westwood, much to the disgust of Lambert and Roy Keane in the Villa dugout.

Moments later the temperature was turned up a notch when Benteke was shown a straight red after he raised his hand towards the face of Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason.

And the man advantage paid off when Chadli levelled the scores moments after he could have been dismissed himself for a reckless challenge on Westwood, before Kane’s free-kick gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side all three points in the final minutes.