Source: SKY_Sports
Spurs dent Villa's CL hopes
Aston Villa's aspirations of securing a UEFA Champions League berth took yet another hit as Tottenham Hotspur stunned Villa Park with a 2-1 success on Sunday.[LNB] Martin O'Neill's men, now without a win in four top-flight games, headed into the Premier League encounter having slipped to fifth after they were leapfrogged by Arsenal, who claimed an emphatic win on Saturday.[LNB]Spurs, meanwhile, were looking to further ensure they avoid relegation this term, and, during a frenetic opening 45 minutes, they took an early lead as Jermaine Jenas headed home from close range.[LNB]Villa pegged their opponents back for the remainder of the first half but were unable to find the breakthrough before the interval, with Emile Heskey going the closest with a header off the woodwork.[LNB]The home team began the second period seeking an immediate leveller but they were rocked as Darren Bent's tap-in made it 2-0, while substitute John Carew's 85th minute strike was too little, too late for Villa.[LNB]RestedO'Neill's side came back after a break in Dubai for the final quarter of the season.[LNB]But there was little of their usual sparkle and flair after a bright start in which Ashley Young was prominent on the left flank as he caused problems for Didier Zokora.[LNB]Spurs boss Harry Redknapp pulled off a masterstroke in replacing Zokora with Vedran Corluka who kept a tighter rein on the Villa winger.[LNB]Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King were a solid combination at the heart of the Tottenham back four while Jenas and Luka Modric always asked questions of the home side.[LNB]Villa central defender Curtis Davies was axed on his 24th birthday with Nigel Reo-Coker restored to the side.[LNB]But after five minutes Jenas stunned the home side by putting Tottenham ahead with his third goal of the campaign.[LNB]Aaron Lennon supplied the right-wing centre which was palmed out at full stretch by Brad Friedel - but Jenas was the first to react and headed home.[LNB]Villa tried to respond and Stiliyan Petrov was only just too high with a dipping 25-yard effort. Then Ashley Young sent in a probing cross to the near post which Heskey was first to react to but deflected wide.[LNB]The Villa winger was seeing plenty of the ball and another cross was only partially cleared to Gareth Barry whose volley was turned aside by Heurelho Gomes.[LNB]Zokora became the first player to be yellow-carded after 23 minutes for a high challenge on Ashley Young near the touchline.[LNB]Ashley Young curled a 20-yard shot just past the post after creating an opening for himself by cutting inside of Lennon.[LNB]It was no surprise when Zokora, who appeared to be carrying no obvious injury, was substituted after 35 minutes and replaced by Corluka.[LNB]WeakFriedel prevented Spurs from doubling their lead when he parried a fierce shot from Modric after he had latched on to a reverse pass from Jenas.[LNB]In first half injury-time Petrov side-footed weakly straight at Gomes from 15 yards out after Heskey had laid the ball back into his path from an Agbonlahor cross.[LNB]Heskey headed against the bar in the closing seconds of the half from a superb Barry centre.[LNB]But after 50 minutes Bent doubled Spurs lead with his 15th goal of the campaign.[LNB]Friedel turned aside a first time effort from Wilson Palacios but Robbie Keane was first to react to the rebound and his cross-cum-shot was turned home at the far post by Bent.[LNB]Reo-Coker became the first Villa player to be yellow-carded for tugging at Bent's shirt.[LNB]Lennon was only just too high with a 20-yard effort as Tottenham began to the knock the ball around in confident fashion.[LNB]Villa striker Carew was brought on after 60 minutes in place of Zat Knight to prompt a drastic shake-up of the Villa defence.[LNB]Milner reverted to right-back, Luke Young to central defender, Reo-Coker to left-back and Agbonlahor on the right side of midfield.[LNB]Gomes was unable to hold onto a straightforward drive from Petrov but no Villa player reacted, much to the anger of the home supporters.[LNB]With five minutes remaining, Carew reduced the arrears when he headed in a centre from Milner for his 11th goal of the season.[LNB][LNB]Aston Villa[LNB]Team Statistics[LNB]Tottenham Hotspur[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Goals[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]1st Half Goals[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]5[LNB]Shots on Target[LNB]7[LNB][LNB][LNB]6[LNB]Shots off Target[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]2[LNB]Blocked Shots[LNB]4[LNB][LNB][LNB]9[LNB]Corners[LNB]5[LNB][LNB][LNB]13[LNB]Fouls[LNB]11[LNB][LNB][LNB]3[LNB]Offsides[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Yellow Cards[LNB]3[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Red Cards[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]71.4[LNB]Passing Success[LNB]74.5[LNB][LNB][LNB]36[LNB]Tackles[LNB]26[LNB][LNB][LNB]77.8[LNB]Tackles Success[LNB]73.1[LNB][LNB][LNB]50[LNB]Possession[LNB]50[LNB][LNB][LNB]58.9[LNB]Territorial Advantage[LNB]41.1[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
