Redknapp talks up Tottenham's title chances

Emmanuel Adebayor's double sinks Aston Villa and moves Spurs up to third in the table.

Manager Harry Redknapp thinks Tottenham Hotspur will win the Premier League this season if they maintain their excellent recent form.

Spurs moved in to third, nine points behind leaders Manchester City, last night with a comfortable 2-0 win over Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.

The victory, which came courtesy of a first-half double from Emmanuel Adebayor, means Redknapp's team have now dropped just two points from their past nine games - a feat which seemed highly unlikely when they suffered heavy defeats to Manchester United and neighbours City at the start of the campaign.

Tottenham finished fifth last year after running out of steam half way through the season, but Redknapp insists his team will challenge for the title if they keep playing the way they are at the moment.

"The title is a possibility. It's not impossible," Redknapp said.

"When I came here I said I wanted to get in the Champions League.

"It's not impossible for anyone. If you keep winning matches and believe in yourself you'll do it.

"Last season Man Utd won it because everyone fell over. If we keep up the form we're in at the moment we'll win the league, but that will be very hard."

Adebayor's scissor kick put Spurs ahead after 14 minutes before the Togo striker added a second just before half-time after a mix-up between James Collins and Shay Given.

Despite Adebayor's return to form after a six-match goal-drought, the creativity and industrious performances of Rafael van der Vaart, Scott Parker and Luka Modric will be the most pleasing aspect of last night's performance for Redknapp, who was making his return to the Tottenham dugout for the first time since undergoing minor heart surgery three weeks ago.

Tottenham are keen for Modric to put pen to paper on a new contract following his public courting by Chelsea this summer.

The Croatian may have upset many Spurs fans by requesting a move to their London rivals, but Redknapp thinks the playmaker deserves to be rewarded for his displays this term.

"I'm sure the chairman will do a new deal and look after him. Hopefully that will happen," Redknapp said.

"You've got to look after him, he's a top, top player. If he's worth £40 million (Dh230m), then he must be worth decent wages.

"He has to be on good money because he's a fantastic player."

Villa were battered from start to finish with sloppy defending responsible for both of Adebayor's goals, forcing manager Alex McLeish to condemn his side's frailties at the back.

"It's so frustrating that we should lose to such easy goals. We started so well, nearly scoring after 40 seconds," he said.

"We can't concede goals like that and expect to do well in the Premier League.

"It was a bad day at the office for a few of our players. They know that they owe the Villa fans and me a performance in the next game.

"Spurs are a fantastic team with a lot of pace and athleticism and great technical players.

"But you can't allow them to flourish the way we did."