Victoria Pelova doubles up again as ruthless second half carries Tottenham past Aston Villa

Pelova in full flow

Victoria Pelova is beginning to look like the player Tottenham hoped they had signed. The midfielder followed two goals against Crystal Palace a week earlier with another double in Sunday's 4-0 win over Aston Villa.

Her influence stretched beyond the goals, with her movement and pressing helping Spurs maintain their dominance. They had 15 shots in the first half without scoring, but found their cutting edge after the break to run away with the game.

"She sets the tone for the team," the Spurs head coach Martin Ho said, praising Pelova's "attitude and mentality" under pressure.

Her confidence appears to be returning, and Ho believes the freedom provided by those around her is allowing the best of Pelova to emerge.

Top of the scoring charts

The brace took Pelova to four goals for the season, level at the top of the WSL Golden Boot race with Birmingham City's Océane Hurtré and Manchester City's Khadija Shaw.

Tottenham sit second in the table on 10 points, two behind the leaders Manchester City, with the best goal difference in the division at +13.