Roman Pavlyuchenko fired Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday with his fourth and fifth goals in three league games.
The win lifts the London side three points clear of Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League, which would bring Champions League football to White Hart Lane next season.
The Russia striker scored in the 55th and 85th minutes in only his second full league game of the season. The second strike settled home nerves just five minutes after Christopher Samba had scored to give Blackburn hope of a draw.
Jermaine Defoe scored Spurs' opener and set up Pavlyuchenko's first before making way for fellow England international Peter Crouch with eight minutes remaining.
Pavlyuchenko was signed from Spartak Moscow for around $28 million in August 2008 but was a bit-part player under manager Harry Redknapp until two goals in a 15-minute substitute appearance against Wigan Athletic in late February. Since then, the Russian international has started every match, adding five goals in two league and two FA Cup games.
He had been widely linked to a move away from North London in the January transfer window, but Robbie Keane's departure to Celtic gave him a chance that he has taken with aplomb.
MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti)
