Breaking Down Tottenham's Premier League Title Race Run In

The end of the Premier League season is less than two months away. 

Leicester City remain very much the favourites with bookmakers, but Tottenham are a genuine threat. 

After an effortless 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Spurs have only improved their situation. The victory only added to an already unassailable goal difference and, having occupied second place for five weeks, Spurs are looking up the table. 

Manchester City and Arsenal both appear unlikely to muster any real title charge. Although there is time yet to recover form, they would have to make up eight and nine points, respectively, on a Leicester side that seem unlikely to drop nearly so many. 

Legendary Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes that Spurs' fortunes have taken a significant shift in this campaign. Shortly after the Gunners' FA Cup exit and Tottenham's victory at Villa Park, Wright said, per the Evening Standard's Sam Long, that "Spurs have got a change about them. There's no change at Arsenal and it seems like it's the same old, same old."

This appears to have became a previously implausible two-horse race. 

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Spurs are the sole team in the top six to have played 30 games; their rivals all have one additional game to play. 

The cruise against Villa was no indication of title potential, and the next eight games will provide sterner tests. 

First is the buoyant Bournemouth. 

Spurs hammered the Cherries in October, but Eddie Howe's team are drastically improved now. 

Only West Ham, Liverpool, Leicester and Spurs themselves have won more games in the last six weeks. 

They are virtually certain to retain their Premier League status for another year but that hasn't slowed them down. Their recent win over Southampton was particularly impressive.

They have won three times in London, so the trip to White Hart Lane will hardly fill them with dread. 

None of the top five clubs are on the fixture list, but each of the teams currently sitting sixth through 11th occupy the next six fixtures after the visit of Bournemouth. 

Immediately after the international break, a trip to Anfield begins the crucial five-week period that will decide Spurs' title ambitions. 

Liverpool have been inconsistent, but Jurgen Klopp has them playing occasionally deadly football. 

Eric Dier missed the reverse fixture after being suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards. If he is booked against Bournemouth, he'll reach 10 for the season and trigger another ban. 

Facing Klopp's resurgent Reds without Dier in the heart of midfield would be risky.

After facing Liverpool, another of the north-west's footballing giants arrives at White Hart Lane in the form of Louis van Gaal's Manchester United.

United are more concerned about securing some form of European football for next season than having any influence on this year's title race, but they possess the quality to threaten Spurs. 

Stoke is the next destination for Tottenham's travelling show, but it has rarely been a happy hunting ground for them. 

The then-longest Premier League unbeaten streak in the club's history came unstuck there in 2011. As did Juande Ramos' final embarrassment as manager. 

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Mark Hughes has changed the style at the Potteries, but he has done little to reduce the impishness that has been at the heart of the club since they arrived in the Premier League. 

Stoke would love to play title race spoilers, and Spurs' arrival in mid-April gives them that opportunity. 

That is guaranteed to be an ugly, ugly fixture, but it is one Tottenham must win. 

The arrival of West Brom on the final day of April should provide some respite. 

A Tony Pulis team with nothing to play for, particularly away from home, is relatively easily dealt with. However, the spectre of Saido Berahino in the Baggies' ranks does provide an irresistible narrative. 

Berahino scoring to unmake Tottenham's title dreams less than 12 months after being denied an apparently desirous move is a story that writes itself. 

Once West Brom totter out of London, there will be just three matches to play.

The first is a trip to Chelsea, a fixture Spurs have never won in the Premier League despite both clubs taking part in every iteration.  

It's the perfect opportunity to banish the demons of Spursiness. 

Then, in the final home game of the season, Mauricio Pochettino's old club appears. Southampton have not often troubled Spurs, but they'd surely love to deny their former boss. 

Finally, a trip to Newcastle. 

Tottenham already trail in this one as Andros Townsend's goal against his boyhood club is inevitable. 

A club likely still fighting for their survival, this will be no final-day walkover. 

With Tottenham's European exit to be confirmed on Thursday, Pochettino will be able to focus all his energies on these fixtures. A manager who is infamously stringent in his preparation will undoubtedly be delighted by a suddenly simplified calendar. 

Spurs are not yet title favourites, but in the next few weeks they very well could be.