Source: Daily_Mail
Aston Villa v Tottenham live
Follow Sportsmail's live coverage of the last fixture from the Premier League Boxing Day matches as Aston Villa host Tottenham at Villa Park. Gerard Houllier will be hoping to pull his side away from the lower reaches of the table, while Spurs will look towards maintaining their challenge for a Champions League place. Email me your thoughts on the game at dan.ripley@dailymail.co.uk[LNB] Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham (5.30pm)Aston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Collins, Cuellar, Lichaj, Downing, Delph (Pires 74), Hogg (Petrov 46), Albrighton, Heskey (Delfouneso 39), Agbonlahor.Subs: Guzan, Reo-Coker, Clark, Bannan.[LNB]Goals: Albrighton 82.Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Jenas 88), Palacios, Modric (Corluka 90), Bale, Van der Vaart (Crouch 75), Defoe.Subs: Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Bassong, Kranjcar.[LNB]Goals: Van der Vaart 23, 67.[LNB]Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire) [LNB]19.40: That's it from me, not for long though, as the Premier League returns tomorrow for a top of the table London derby between Chelsea and Arsenal.[LNB]Be sure to check back for that, but for now thank you for following our live Boxing Day Premier League coverage. Good evening.[LNB]19.38: For Spurs though, it keeps them in the hunt for the Champions League and depending on how much alcohol you have consumed during this Christmas period, one eye on the title.[LNB]They sit in fifth, a point behind Chelsea in fourth and seven behind league leaders Manchester United.[LNB]19.36: And it does not make for a pretty sight in the table for the home side.[LNB]They sit 15th and four points away from the drop zone, for their sake I hope the young inexperienced squad does not let itself get dragged into a relegation battle.[LNB]19.35: Villa will be gutted they have not taken anything from this game though. They certainly had their chances but they really do lack a killer instinct in front of goal right now.[LNB]19.32: A great advert for the Premier League. I'm not too sure how much longer Spurs could have held on but in the most part there defending was excellent.[LNB]Full-time Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham[LNB]90+4min: Final sub from Spurs as Vedran Corluka comes on for Modric.[LNB]90+3min: Should be the equaliser. Lichaj gets in behind the defence in a packed penalty box but with an angle to goal can only find the side netting. Gomes is booked for time wasting, Spurs hanging on.[LNB]90+2min: This game is still very much alive and Modric is booked for a late foul on Lichaj.[LNB] Separated: Robert Pires and Harry Redknapp clashed late on in the game[LNB]90min: Four minutes is the call, Robert Pires seems to exchange a few angry words with Harry Redknapp, unfortunately I genuinely don't know why.[LNB]89min: Bale nearly makes it safe for Spurs as his free-kick just creeps wide of the post. Friedel was beaten.[LNB]Jermaine Jeans is on for Lennon with Petrov also back on.[LNB]88min: Agbonlahor is booked after a foul on Modric as Spurs have a rare burst forward.[LNB]87min: And now a blood injury for Petrov after he collides with Crouch in the air. It's 10 v 10 for the moment.[LNB]86min: Brief, and I mean brief respite for Spurs as Petrov fires well over from 25 yards.[LNB]85min: Villa are piling forward, Spurs just cannot get out their own half. Fascinating stuff.[LNB]82min: GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-2 Tottenham[LNB]Time to take your attention away from whatever you're doing and concentrate fully on this. Marc Albrighton's in-swinging cross from the right evades everyone including Gomes before nestling into the afr bottom corner.[LNB]82min: It is all Villa now, and they look more threatening than ever, I will be amazed if they do not score one.[LNB]79min: Spurs are furious and have every right to be, Hutton slides in on Albrighton and despite winning the ball is booked.[LNB]78min: Small delay here as Gomes gets treatment for what looks like a dislocation after that corner. The Villa fans are obviously far from impressed when he gets up to take the goal kick.[LNB]77min: That's just as close, the corner results in Gomes punching clear, with Lichaj blasting the follow up just wide. Collins was inches away from getting a touch on that too.[LNB]76min: This games is not over, Agbonlahor makes an angle to goal 25 yards out and whips in a low shot that Gomes does well to turn out for a corner.[LNB]75min: And that is it for Van der Vaart who as you can imagine, casually walks off to be replaced by Peter Crouch.[LNB]74min: As Van der Vaart gives away a free-kick 25 yards out, Delph is replaced by Robert Pires. I am sure he has read the script from his Arsenal years.[LNB]72min: That is better. Delph whips in an in-swinging ball to the near post and Abonlahor gets his head on it which unfortunately for him is straight at Gomes. Either side though...[LNB]71min: Villa should not lose faith though, if they can pull one goal back, momentum is fully with them to get another.[LNB] Double Dutch: Van der Vaart scores his and Spurs' second goal[LNB]67min: GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 TOTTENHAM[LNB]That is stunning counter-attack football. Bale breaks down the right, cuts inside beats two players before laying off Aaron Lennon in the penalty box. He knocks it in front of Rafael van der Vaart who first time from the edge of the box picks out the bottom corner.[LNB]If you have a textbook at home with a guide on how to counter-attack, rip it up it's now worthless after that.[LNB]64min: Poor from Cuellar, in a better position than previous he headers over from the far post after another Downing cross. Robert Pires warming up.[LNB]63min: Another corner for Villa, they are just starting to find one tor two gaps now as Delfouneso forces a near-post save from Gomes.[LNB]61min: Most of the play is in Spurs half, but Villa are not beating down the door. I still maintain this game has another goal in. Terrific advert for football this.[LNB]58min: Villa are getting closer, Downing shows neat skill on the left to create space before sending in a cross that is headed just wide by Carlos Cuellar.[LNB]56min: Neat skill from Van der Vaart brings in a clumsy challenge from Delph and the Villa player is booked. Neat skill from the Dutchman, he really takes this Spurs team up a level.[LNB]Quiet: Garteh Bale (left) struggled to create from the left in the first hour, with Eric Lichaj marking him[LNB]54min: Poor from Spurs. Modric gives it straight to Albrighton on the edge of the box and his chip across goal is volleyed in an unorthodox fashion wide by Delfouneso.[LNB]53min: Comfortable enough for Spurs so far, they may only have 10 men but they don't look it. Villa not really making the most of the extra man.[LNB]50min: Villa getting on top. Delfounseo finds a gap behind the defence but his snap shot is straight at Gomes, who has two attempts to gather up the ball.[LNB]48min: Still even between the teams but here is the first chance coming up for Villa as they win a corner.[LNB]It cause mayhem in the Spurs box as the visitors scramble it clear.[LNB]Second half: Players are back out and Villa have made a second sub With Stiliyan Petrov replacing Hogg. The home side kick us off.[LNB]18.25: Just watching a few highlights of that half and there is at least three incidents that will dive opinion.[LNB]For me the denied penalty for Heskey was the correct decision.[LNB]Spur's disallowed goal should have stood and looking at the Defoe incident again, I think the sending off is actually very harsh.[LNB]18.23: Spurs may have been more than comfortable in the closing moments of that half but this game has been end to end. There is just no way this will finish 1-0.[LNB]Half-time: Aston Villa 0-1 Tottenham[LNB]45min: Two minutes added on and Spurs are frustrating the home crowd and team by knocking the ball about. Child's play.[LNB]43min: Ten men Spurs still have a foot in this one and they are keeping the ball well. This game is so delicately poised.[LNB]40min: Delfouneso indeed is on for Heskey and after evading two challenges skies his shot from the edge of the box, he is looking lively though.[LNB]39min: Vill are getting closer. Downing's effort from 20 yards out just zips past the post.[LNB]I would bet anything on this not staying 1-0.[LNB]38min: So much for my Heskey plan. Nathan Delfouneso has got the tracksuit off and is getting ready to come on.[LNB]Seeing red: Jermain Defoe receives his straight red card[LNB]37min: Nearly two for Spurs, Palacios finds space running down the middle and his shot is well saved by Friedel who gets fingertips at the near post effort. Goal kick is the decision though.[LNB]35min: First yellow for Villa after Jonathan Hogg brings down Luka Modric.[LNB]33min: Nowthere is someone who is having an off day. Bale attempts to control along pass and completely misses it as it bounces out for a throw in. hehas been very quiet.[LNB]31min: Villa's tactics are pretty obvious but effective.[LNB]They are looking to get the ball outwide and lumping balls for Emile Heskey in the box. Given Spurs' frailback four it's a smart plan.[LNB]28min: Defoecan have few complaints, he jumps in with a leading arm that looks farfrom innocent on James Collins when challenging for a header, andMartin Atkinson does not take long to flash a red card.[LNB]I said it was the game that keeps on giving.[LNB][LNB]27min: RED CARD (Jermain Defoe, Tottenham)[LNB] Dutch delight: Van der Vaart celebrates putting Spurs in front[LNB]23min: GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 TOTTENHAM[LNB]Villa's villain. Alan Hutton's low cross which had minimal power evades two outstretched Villa players before Rafael Van der Vaart pounces firs inside the box, to score his third goal against Gerard Houllier's side this season.[LNB]21min: Moments after showing great defending in clearing more than once with his head, Kaboul gets himself into trouble when he hesitates on the edge of his box allowing Albrighton to steal the ball from him.[LNB]Kaboul to his credit manages to recover...just, and gets a decisive tackle to get the ball back off the youngster.[LNB]18min: Heavens above, this is the game that does not stop giving![LNB]Agbonlahor is through on goal but he is denied twice by Gomes, first by shooting straight at him and secondly from the rebound, where the Brazilian shows sharp reflexes to palm the striker's header out for a corner.[LNB]16min: Controversial. Spurs should be one up. Van der Vaart's free-kick looks to be over hit but Hutton just gets a touch to keep it in at the far post with Kaboul proceeding to volley it home after.[LNB]Martin Atkinson shows no hesitation in ruling it out and there is not much complaints from the Spurs players, but they are very unfortunate not to be a goal up.[LNB]15min: I will be amazed if this finishes 0-0, it's becoming stretched already, Stewart Downing skins Alan Hutton for pace down the left, but his shot on goal once he cuts inside is too weak and Gomes takes comfortably.[LNB] Desperate: Gomes beats Heskey to the ball with an outstretched hand[LNB]12min: Cracking start to this match, Defoe is through in on goal again but his shot is blocked out for a corner.[LNB]Crowd are really getting into this too. Top game with a top atmosphere.[LNB]9min: Gomes nearly gives away a penalty that is almost a carbon copy of his foul on Ramires last time out.[LNB]Gomes and Heskey challenge for a loose ball and the striker goes down after the keeper almost dives Superman like at the ball, he gets a punch on the ball first though and I think that is what saves him.[LNB]8min: Jonathan Hogg lunges in on Van der Vaart, but despite getting the ball is a little over the top and Spurs win a free-kick out on the left.[LNB]Van der Vaart's cross is headed over by Gareth Bale.[LNB]6min: Palacios is back on for Spurs and he looks okay. Finally a chance for a breather.[LNB]4min: Now Spurs have a great chance to score! Jermain Defoe is played through in the box but the onrushing Friedel manages to get an outstretched hand to palm away Defoe's chip shot. What a start to this game![LNB]3min: It gets worse for Spurs they are down to 10 men temporarily, after Wilson Palacios is clattered by Albrighton, he is lucky not to get booked. [LNB]2min: And another chance! This time Gabriel Agbonlahor rises unchallenged in the box to head just wide of Gomes' post.[LNB]1min: Villa go very close to scoring in the first minute. A long free-kick is punted in the box but after Spurs make a mess of clearing the ball, Marc Albrighton fluffs his lines from 6 yards out, enabling Heurelho Gomes to make a good save.[LNB]Kick-off: Tottenham kick us off.[LNB]17.25: Chilly evening in the west Midlands, no sign of any snoods though as both players make their way out onto the pitch to a fairly noisy reception from the Villa Park crowd.[LNB]17.23: Harry Redknapp on starting Van der Vaart and Defoe for the first time:[LNB]'I don't know how it's going to work, we will have to pass the ball though, we cannot just lump it up there otherwise Villa will just eat us up.'[LNB]17.20: Gerard Houllier pre-match:[LNB]'Today is a very important game, we have not played for two weeks and the legs are aching.[LNB]'People will question whether it's right to start Fabian Delph but I think it is the right time.'[LNB] Last gasp: Younes Kaboul (centre) celebrates his injury time equaliser in Spurs' 4-4 draw with Aston Villa in 2007[LNB]17.17: So many classics over the last few years, it's hard to pick out a standout result.[LNB]But the 4-4 from 2007 must be up there, Villa were 4-1 up at Spurs, only for the home side to hit three late goals that (for the time) saved Martin Jol's job.[LNB]17.14: The full lineups from Villa Park:[LNB]Aston Villa v TottenhamAston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Collins, Cuellar, Lichaj, Downing, Delph, Hogg, Albrighton, Heskey, Agbonlahor. Subs: Guzan, Pires, Delfouneso, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Clark, Bannan.Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Defoe. Subs: Cudicini, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka.Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)[LNB]17.12 James Collins becomes Aston Villa's fifth captain of the season with Ashley Young sidelined with a knee injury for today's Barclays Premier League clash at home to Tottenham.[LNB]Young is one of two changes made by boss Gerard Houllier who also benches Barry Bannan, recalling Gabriel Agbonlahor after recovering from a chest infection, and surprisingly handing Fabian Delph his first match for nearly nine months.[LNB]Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp also makes two changes following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago.[LNB]Rafael van der Vaart and Younes Kaboul are restored to the line-up in place of Sebastien Bassong and Roman Pavlyuchenko who are both named as substitutes.[LNB]17.10: Good news goal fans, Tottenham have not kept a clean sheet away from home all season, while Aston Villa have at times just looked laughable at the back.[LNB]Both sides have players returning to boost their attack and this fixture alone has a history of net busters and lots of them. Get ready to sit back and enjoy. Team news on the way.[LNB] Hot-Spur: Rafael van der Vaart returns from injury for Tottenham[LNB] Hughes to offer out-of-favour Aston Villa striker Carew a Fulham lifeline Anxious Spurs defender Woodgate is back in business as a loan contenderALL ASTON VILLA FC
