Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Harry Kane has scored seven times in seven games

• Tottenham strike twice in final six minutes

• Kane scores ninth goal of the season

• Villa end goal drought stretching back to 13 September

• Benteke sent off for second-half push

Harry Kane scored his seventh goal in seven games for Tottenham to send Aston Villa to a sixth straight defeat.

Andreas Weimann had given Villa a deserved half-time lead with their first goal since 13 September.

But after Villa's Christian Benteke was sent off for pushing Tottenham's Ryan Mason in the face, Nacer Chadli swept in Erik Lamela's corner to equalise.

And substitute Kane, prolific in cups this season, came on to score with a last-minute deflected free-kick.

The England Under-21 international stepped up his claims for a first Premier League start of the season after following up a hat-trick in the 5-1 Europa League win over Asteras Tripolis with another goal in Wednesday's 2-0 League Cup win over Brighton.

He began on the bench at Villa Park, but looked a significant threat after replacing Emmanuel Adebayor with little more than half an hour to go.

Defeat increases the problems for Villa manager Paul Lambert, who had acknowledged before the match that he was not "bomb-proof" despite only signing a contract extension in September.

Roberto Soldado had two early chances to give Spurs the lead, fizzing a 20-yard shot just wide in the first minute and then heading past the post after a scramble in the penalty area.

But after Benteke hit the angle of post and bar from Aly Cissokho's low ball in, Villa found a way to end a goal drought that had lasted nine hours and seven minutes of playing time.

Charles N'Zogbia, recalled to the starting line-up in place of the dropped Gabriel Agbonlahor, got clear down the right and crossed low for Weimann to sweep in from 15 yards.

The home fans showed they had not lost their sense of humour, greeting the goal with a chant of "we're Aston Villa, we score when we want".

But Adebayor should have equalised before half-time, finishing weakly after being sent clear by Christian Eriksen and allowing keeper Brad Guzan to push the ball aside.

The match turned when Benteke was sent off 20 minutes into the second half for raising his hands after a scuffle involving Mason.

Television replays suggested the Tottenham midfielder pushed his head into Benteke's face first - but the Belgium striker's reaction left referee Neil Swarbrick with no option but to show him a red card.

A man short, Villa began to tire as Kane's energy caused them problems.

The equaliser came with six minutes left as Chadli rose at the far post to tap in Lamela's corner for his fourth league goal of the season.

And Kane struck right at the end with a free-kick that flicked in off defender Nathan Baker to leave Guzan stranded and Lambert in despair.

Andreas Weimann's goal was Villa's first since 13 September

Benteke was shown a straight red card by referee Neil Swarbrick

Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke was involved in a second-half confrontation that led to his dismissal

Harry Kane's free-kick was deflected in off Villa defender Nathan Baker