Birmingham 0 Tottenham 2: Aaron Lennon scored his first goal for Tottenham to help conquer their away-day blues and keep them on course for a Champions League spot.

Robbie Keane added the second, his 11th goal of the campaign, to ensure Martin Jol’s side moved back above Arsenal into fourth place in the Premiership.

Defeat piled on more misery for Birmingham who remain third from bottom but are now level on points with Portsmouth after their win over weakened West Ham.

Jermain Defoe, restored to the Spurs starting line-up in place of the injured Mido, impressed in front of watching England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and was unlucky not to put his name on the score-sheet.

Tottenham’s push for a place in Europe has been blighted by their form away from White Hart Lane and they had collected only one point from their previous four away games.

But they look to have the quality to sustain their challenge although they came up against a much- improved Birmingham, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.

There was little to choose between the sides in that initial period with Nicky Butt and Damien Johnson making their presence felt for the home side in midfield.

But Spurs stamped their authority on proceedings in the second 45 minutes with Jermaine Jenas and Michael Carrick, other contenders for Eriksson’s World Cup squad, making their mark in midfield.

On 65 minutes, Aaron Lennon scored his first goal for Tottenham since his summer move from Leeds, and Robbie Keane made sure of the points for Tottenham with 13 minutes remaining when he converted Jenas’ inch-perfect pass.