Tottenham win to boost Euro hopes
Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur won for the first time in six Premier League matches with a 3-1 victory over Swansea that revived their push for Champions League football.
Sunday's success at their White Hart Lane home saw Tottenham draw level on points with third-placed north London rivals Arsenal.
And it also meant Spurs, currently occupying the fourth and final Champions League place on offer to English clubs, went five points clear of nearest pursuers Chelsea and Newcastle.
Rafael van der Vaart stylishly sidefooted in Spurs' opener in the 19th minute before Gylfi Sigurdsson equalised in the 69th minute.
But two late headers from Adebayor, on loan from Manchester City, sealed a much needed win for Spurs who've faltered in the Premier League ever since manager Harry Redknapp was installed as the favourite for the vacant England job following Fabio Capello's resignation in February.
Dashing Wales winger Gareth Bale, who caused Swansea problems throughout, nearly set up an opening goal for Spurs in the 12th minute but Adebayor could not convert his cross.
Then, in an open match, Neil Taylor went close for the visitors three minutes later but Spurs keeper Brad Friedel saved with his legs.
However, in the 19th minute the hosts took the lead when Luka Modric released Bale down the left and Ashley Williams cleared his cross straight into the path of Van der Vaart, who steered the ball past fellow Dutchman Michel Vorm.
Swansea goalkeeper Vorm then made an excellent diving save to deny Younes Kaboul.
After-halftime, 40-year-old Friedel made a stunning save to tip Sigurdsson's 25-yard shot wide.
But Icelandic midfielder Sigurdsson, on loan from German club Hoffenheim, beat Friedel with a volley into the ground that looped over the American shot-stopper from 18 yards out.
Togo striker Adebayor, however, sealed all three points for Spurs.
The 28-year-old rose unopposed to head in van der Vaart's 73rd minute corner and then, four minutes from time, nodded in substitute Aaron Lennon's cross.
