Source: Team_Talk
Villa and Spurs share the spoils
Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Martin O'Neill's side a half-time lead with his eighth goal of the season.[LNB]But the second half was completely dominated by the visitors as Villa often dragged all 11 players behind the ball before Dawson broke their resistance.[LNB]And only a series of excellent saves from Brad Friedel prevented Tottenham from chalking up their fourth away victory of 2009-2010.[LNB]After a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Tottenham showed the kind of enterprise which had demolished Wigan 9-1 last weekend with Niko Kranjcar in excellent form.[LNB]But the Villa defence is made of sterner stuff than the Latics with Carlos Cuellar again making a good impression.[LNB]Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker came into the side for Steve Sidwell while Habib Beye replaced ill left-back Stephen Warnock. He took over at right-back from Luke Young who switched to the opposite flank.[LNB]Spurs central defender Jonathan Woodgate's groin problem meant he made way for Sebastien Bassong.[LNB]Villa, unbeaten at home since the opening day of the campaign, looked full of positive intent in the early stages and started at a high tempo.[LNB]But it was home keeper Friedel who was called upon to make the first save of the game.[LNB]The former Blackburn player had to be alert to tip over a powerful drive from Kranjcar from just outside the box.[LNB]Then after nine minutes Agbonlahor put Villa ahead.[LNB]James Milner's near-post corner was met by Cuellar whose header was blocked on the line by Benoit Assou-Ekotto but the loose ball broke to Agbonlahor who squeezed it home.[LNB]Tottenham posed little attacking threat in the opening 45 minutes.[LNB]But Cuellar came to Villa's rescue when he cleared a shot from Peter Crouch off the line after Friedel had kept out the initial attempt from Defoe.[LNB]Agbonlahor found a yard of space on the edge of the Spurs box but dragged his shot well wide.[LNB]Friedel had to be alert to tip over a drive from Tom Huddlestone after it had taken a slight deflection off Reo-Coker.[LNB]Aaron Lennon saw little of the ball in the opening half which was surprising given the destruction he had caused against Wigan.[LNB]Redknapp would have wanted more from his side attacking-wise in the second period - and his players responded.[LNB]Friedel had to be at his best to finger-tip a fierce 20-yard drive from Kranjcar around the post at full stretch.[LNB]The game now more open with Villa looking to catch Spurs on the counter-attack.[LNB]A mistake by Huddlestone allowed Agbonlahor to find Ashley Young in space but his centre was just too high for Carew who could get no direction or power on his header.[LNB]But Villa were now dropping back in numbers as the visitors dominated possession-wise.[LNB]The impressive Cuellar blocked a shot from Kranjcar after throwing himself at full stretch.[LNB]Redknapp made his first substitution after 65 minutes with Wilson Palacios replaced by Jermaine Jenas while the limping Reo-Coker made way for Villa midfielder Sidwell.[LNB]Friedel was again Villa's saviour when he blocked a low shot from Jenas.[LNB]Defoe bundled the rebound into the net but was adjudged to have handled by referee Phil Dowd.[LNB]With 15 minutes remaining, Emile Heskey was introduced in place of Carew.[LNB]But after 78 minutes Dawson deservedly brought Spurs back on level terms when he fired an unstoppable shot past Friedel from the edge of the box.[LNB][LNB]
