ASTON VILLA v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER
ComeOnSpurs.com, 28 Nov 2009
Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
15 March 2009
Tottenham go into their clash with Aston Villa on Saturday looking to follow up their magnificent 9-1 win over Wigan with the three points over their fellow Champions League hopefuls.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will not want his side to get too carried away by that Wigan victory when they travel to the midlands.
Redknapp would certainly like a repeat of last season's 2-1 win at Villa Park where Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent goals were enough to secure all three points.
The visitors were in front after just five minutes when Jenas silenced the home crowd when he headed home after Aaron Lennon's cross had been palmed out by Villa keeper Brad Friedel.
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The Villains looked to get immediately back into the game and were unlucky not to equalise when Stiliyan Petrov sent a dipping 25-yard effort just over Heurelho Gomes's bar.
Emile Heskey was next to go close but his close range effort was deflected wide following a good cross by Ashley Young.
Gomes was again on hand to deny Villa when he pushed Gareth Barry's effort wide while Young curled a 20 yard effort narrowly wide.
Spurs looked to extend their lead when Luka Modric fired an effort at goal but Friedel was equal to it.
Martin O'Neill's men went close twice in the closing stages of the first half when Petrov fired straight at Gomes while Heskey saw a header hit the crossbar.
Five minutes into the second half Tottenham were 2-0 up after Friedel saved a Wilson Palacios shot before Robbie Keane fired a cross-shot to the back post which Bent converted.
Lennon was close to adding a third but his strike went narrowly over the top of Friedel's crossbar.
Spurs were looking in confident mood but had to hang on for their win when Villa pulled one back with five minutes remaining.
Substitute John Carew headed home from a James Milner cross for his 11th goal of the campaign but unfortunately for the home side it was not the start of a late comeback.
Aston Villa: Friedel, Reo-Coker, Cuellar, Knight (Carew 60), Luke Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso 79), Heskey (Gardner 82). Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Davies, Shorey.
