Christian Benteke scored in the first half to give Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Tottenham, lifting his team further away from the relegation zone and giving manager Tim Sherwood a victory at his former club.

Benteke maintained his good scoring form by heading in the winner in the 35th minute, having netted a hat trick against Queens Park Rangers in midweek. It was the striker's eighth goal in six games and gave Sherwood a winning return to White Hart Lane, having been fired by Tottenham at the end of last season.

The win lifts 15th-place Villa to 32 points from 33 games, six points clear of the relegation zone. Tottenham remained in seventh, seven points outside the top four.

Villa had Carlos Sanchez sent off for his second booking in injury time.