A BENOIT Assou-Ekotto wonder-strike helped Tottenham overpower Everton and reassert their credentials as genuine title-contenders.

The leftback scored his second-ever goal for Spurs to add to an Aaron Lennon strike to secure a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane.

The result draws Tottenham level with second-placed Manchester United, and the home side could have had more goals in a game they dominated.

Tottenham started the game slowly and could have gone behind in the first minute as Michael Dawson, starting in the league for the first time since January, failed to clear and left Louis Saha to shoot just wide.

But once the hosts got into their stride, Everton struggled to cope, especially against Gareth Bale pace along the wings and through the centre.

But it was the other winger Lennon who provided a thoroughly deserved breakthrough for Spurs in the 34th minute.

He latched on to a searching cross-field ball by Assou-Ekotto and easily beat Leighton Baines to break into the box and sweep the ball past Tim Howard.

And the leftback turned goalscorer in the 62nd minute when he slammed the ball home from 30 yards out.

With little on, Assou-Ekotto took a touch and lashed the ball past a sprawling Howard to double Spurs' lead.

Like so many games this season, Tottenham could have had a lot more goals, but in the end had to settled for just two.

Emmanuel Adebayor was put clean through by Gareth Bale on the counter attack after 24 minutes, but the Togo striker's touch was heavy and the ball ran out of play.

Lennon could have added to his tally early in the second half but could not aim his header on target.

And a typically cavalier counter-attack led by Bale ended with a fine stop by Howard.

Referee Martin Atkinson waved away a couple of first half penalty shouts for Tottenham, with Luka Modric unlucky not to get anything after going down under a clumsy challenge from Tim Cahill.

Everton claimed a penalty when substitute Royston Drenthe appeared to be tripped by Kaboul, but again Mr Atkinson said no.

Everton pushed for a way into the game, but in the end they were outclassed by high-flying Tottenham.

Midfielder Scott Parker was deemed not fit for the second Premier League game running, and with Sandro and Tom Huddlestone also sidelined, Jake Livermore came into the side and excelled in the centre of midfield.

Spurs will now face Wolves on Saturday with the chance to go level with leaders Manchester City and heap more pressure on Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur

Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Aaron Lennon, Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor

Subs: Carlo Cudicini, Danny Rose, Sebastien Bassong, Steven Pienaar, Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Niko Krancjar

Everton

Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Jonny Heitinga, Sylvain Distin, Phil Neville, Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Louis Saha, Landon Donovan, Victor Anichebe

Subs: Jan Mucha, Royston Drenthe, Apostolos Vellios, James McFadden, Denis Stracqualursi, Magaye Gueye, Shane Duffy