England breakthrough star Andros Townsend continued his fine form by inspiring Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-0 win at Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Sunday.

The 22-year-old winger, who starred as England booked its place at the World Cup last week, scored the opening goal with a 31st-minute cross that crept past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Roberto Soldado added a second after half-time as Spurs moved up to fifth place in the table, three points behind leader Arsenal (19), and began to atone for its shock 0-3 home defeat by West Ham United.

"It was a great performance," said Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas. "It was the right response after the defeat by West Ham and it is good to see us near the top."

It was a first defeat in four league games for Paul Lambert's Villa, which now finds itself 13th, but it was a marked improvement on its 0-4 capitulation to the same side in the League Cup last month.

There was an unsavory incident in the aftermath of the first goal when assistant referee David Bryan was struck by a flare apparently thrown from the Spurs supporters' section, but after a brief delay, play continued.

Local police said that two men had been arrested over the incident. They were later bailed.