Match Thread Vs Aston Villa

Seems that they have an advantage at Vile Park . . . . . .

At Aston Villa (72)

Results Total %

Aston Villa 30 (wins 41.67%)

Tottenham Hotspur 22 (wins 30.56%)

Draws 20 (27.78%)

Goals Total Av.pg

Aston Villa 105 @1.46pg

Tottenham Hotspur 95 @1.32pg

But draws seem the most likely outcome over the last 10 years . . . . .

Match-by-match

Season Date Home Score Away Competition

2010/2011 Sat 02 Oct Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Aston Villa Premier League
2009/2010 Sat 06 Feb Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Aston Villa Premier League
2009/2010 Sat 28 Nov Aston Villa 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League
2008/2009 Sun 15 Mar Aston Villa 1 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League
2008/2009 Mon 15 Sep Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2 Aston Villa Premier League
2007/2008 Tue 01 Jan Aston Villa 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League
2007/2008 Mon 01 Oct Tottenham Hotspur 4 - 4 Aston Villa Premier League
2006/2007 Tue 26 Dec Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Aston Villa Premiership
2006/2007 Sat 14 Oct Aston Villa 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 21 Jan Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Aston Villa Premiership
2005/2006 Sat 17 Sep Aston Villa 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2004/2005 Sun 01 May Tottenham Hotspur 5 - 1 Aston Villa Premiership
2004/2005 Mon 22 Nov Aston Villa 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2003/2004 Sun 02 May Aston Villa 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2003/2004 Sun 23 Nov Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Aston Villa Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 18 Jan Aston Villa 0 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2002/2003 Sat 24 Aug Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 0 Aston Villa Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 29 Dec Aston Villa 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 18 Aug Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Aston Villa Premiership
2000/2001 Sat 28 Apr Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Aston Villa Premiership
2000/2001 Sat 11 Nov Aston Villa 2 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership
1999/2000 Sat 15 Apr Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 4 Aston Villa Premiership
1999/2000 Wed 29 Dec Aston Villa 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur Premiership

Record Scores

Highest Aggregate 10 Tottenham Hotspur 5 - 5 Aston Villa 1965/1966

Highest Aston Villa score: 5 Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 5 Aston Villa 1991/1992

Highest Tottenham Hotspur score: 6 Tottenham Hotspur 6 - 2 Aston Villa 1960/1961

last time we played them away on boxing day we won 4 1

Hope so lads, we could do with a win.

Aston Villa v Tottenham
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Barclays Premier League
Home Team Score Away Team Time
Aston Villa v Tottenham 17:30



Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Sunday, 26 December Kick-off: 1730 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles


TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa captain Ashley Young is a doubt for Boxing Day because of knee and ankle injuries.

Stiliyan Petrov and Fabian Delph are back in full training after lengthy lay-offs and have an outside chance of being involved.

Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas, Younes Kaboul and Rafael van der Vaart are all expected to return after injury.

William Gallas faces a fitness test on his hamstring problem, but Ledley King is still not yet fully fit.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aston Villa

Doubtful: Delph & Petrov (both knee), A Young (ankle/knee), L Young (groin)

Injured: Sidwell (Achilles), Weimann (ankle)

Tottenham

Doubtful: Gallas (hamstring)

Injured: Huddlestone (ankle), King & Woodgate (both groin), O'Hara (back)



MATCH PREVIEW
Christmas cheer has been thin on the ground at Villa Park as manager Gerard Houllier continues to battle behind the scenes with dressing room unrest. January could prove to be an interesting month as he begins to overhaul a squad that is riddled with players with huge question marks hanging over their futures.
Like many managers in the new year he will be relying on chairman Randy Lerner to dig deep to provide funds for the January transfer window. But Houllier could be forgiven for having his concerns given the American's recent parsimonious nature when it comes to spending.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner says Lerner is as "dedicated as ever" to see the club succeed, yet players may be sold before replacements can be brought in.

Harry Redknapp, on the other hand, has been backed to the hilt by his chairman Daniel Levy and has a squad to rival any in the top flight. He may fight claims of being a wheeler dealer, but his crafty last-gasp capture of Rafael van der Vaart at the end of the August transfer window has so far proven to be the signing of the season.

Villa felt the full force of the Dutch dynamo when his brace gave Spurs a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in October. That win kept up the Londoners' recent hoodoo over their Midlands rivals and also maintained Redknapp's ability to nick three points against the Villans - he hasn't lost a league game against them now for over four-and-a-half years.



MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• Villa have only won two of their last 12 matches against Tottenham.

• But Spurs have managed just two league wins in 18 attempts at Villa Park in the Premier League.

• Harry Redknapp is unbeaten in nine league matches against Aston Villa since his Portsmouth side lost 1-0 at Villa Park in March 2006.

• The Villans have picked up maximum points in just one of their Boxing Day games since 1999. Spurs are unbeaten on 26 December since 2003.

• This is the 152nd meeting between the sides. Tottenham have won 61 matches, Aston Villa 55 and there have been 35 draws.

Aston Villa

• Villa's 2-1 victory over West Brom in their last match was only their second league win in 11 attempts (W2, D4, L5).

• They have lost all five matches in which they conceded the opening goal.

• Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton have all either scored or assisted a total of seven league goals this season.

Tottenham

• They have only won one game outside London this season in all competitions (v Stoke).

• Tottenham have thrown away eight points from winning positions this season, having drawn against West Brom, Sunderland, Birmingham and Chelsea. But they have recouped 16 points from losing positions, which is more than any other top-flight side.

• Spurs have scored 52% of their goals with their left foot, a higher proportion than any other team.

• Only Robbie Fowler (nine) has scored more Premier League goals on Boxing Day than Robbie Keane (eight).



LEADING GOALSCORERS


Aston Villa

Downing: 6 goals (5 league); Heskey: 5 goals (2 league)



Tottenham

Bale & Pavyluchenko: 9 goals (5 league)



MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Martin Atkinson

Assistant referees: Patrick Keane & Peter Kirkup

Fourth official: Lee Mason


LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (W2-1 v West Brom, h): Friedel, Lichaj, Cuellar, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton (Herd 90), Hogg, Bannan (Reo-Coker 73), Downing, Ashley Young, Heskey (Delfouneso 83). Subs not used: Guzan, Dunne, Pires, Carew

Tottenham (D1-1 v Chelsea, h): Gomes, Hutton, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Palacios (Sandro 89), Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Keane 78), Defoe (Crouch 60). Subs not used: Cudicini, Bentley, Giovani, Corluka

Thanx Baz. Have one back for Xmas . . . . . ..

what a load of bollox sending Big Toe, Defoe Off.

Bale is a bit off pace today, but Vdv and Modders are playing really well. COYS!!!!!

Cheers Vis, MOTM has to be Modders for me although VDV very close!

Pires Is from Old LEMON LIPS school of dirty cheating bast*rds! Good to see Harry getting stuck in!!

Quality result & performance today by the lads, very much needed 3 points to stay in touch with the top 4 !!

VDV was brilliant once again scoring twice and was all over the pitch, Modders was excellent too covering so much ground. Bale & Lennon slowly came into the game and created the 2nd goal, cant fault their efforts. Palacios is improving but he needs to work on his passing and made some decent runs at times. We defended well, but still looked a bit shaky at times, i thought villa were gonna get the 2nd at the end. Gomes is still worrying me at at times, but we did well to hold on. That Pires is a right rude bitch for gobbing off to Harry.

Defoe shouldnt of been sent off, that was ridiculous and Spurs should complain, otherwise he'll miss 3 games. Kaboul's goal should of been allowed as the ball was still in play, and that was never a pen, i think both Gomes & Hesky touched the ball so it was the correct decision.

Very happy with the performance & a nice way to finish off xmas and look forwards to the new year!! COYS!

Some text highlights from the game. Enjoy . . . . . . . :new kit:



Tottenham goal: Lovely goal. Spurs work it well again and Alan Hutton strides down the right before crossing low into the box for the onrushing Rafael van der Vaart to side-foot home.


1756: It wasn't the greatest of crosses that from Alan Hutton and James Collins might kick himself a touch for failing to cut it out. And Villa fans won't want to hear this either - they've not come from behind to earn a single point this season apparently. Ouch.

1758: RED CARD TOTTENHAM (Defoe)

Tottenham red card: Big decision and Spurs are down to 10 men. Jermain Defoe goes up for a header with James Collins and the Villa defender comes off worse after being caught by the striker's elbow. Referee Martin Atkinson consults his linesman and brandishes a straight red. Was there intent there? I'm not sure. Did he lead with the elbow a touch? Yes. Tough one to call, that.


Chief football writer Phil McNulty at Villa Park: "You can't take your eyes off this for a moment. Gerard Houllier will ask why the left side of Aston Villa's defence went missing in action for the goal, but what world-class vision and delivery from Luka Modric in the creation of Rafael van der Vaart's goal. Jermain Defoe's red card has taken some of the gloss off that, and some Spurs players were clearly unhappy at the speed with which James Collins was back on his feet after being caught by the striker's elbow. Was there intent?"

1856: GOALFLASH Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham (Van der Vaart)

Tottenham goal: Fabulous counter-attack, fabulous goal. Rafael van der Vaart's flick sets Gareth Bale running from inside his own half, he bursts into the box and feeds Aaron Lennon, who cuts it back to Van der Vaart to fire low into the corner.



1906: Fine effort from Gabriel Agbonlahor from range, but Heurelho Gomes gets down brilliantly to tip the swerving 20-yarder around the post.

1907: We'll have a delay here as Heurelho Gomes receives some treatment on a hand - it looks like he might have dislocated a finger. Ouch. He'll play on, though.



1916: A bit of respite for Tottenham as an Aaron Lennon break is ended illegally by Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Gareth Bale may fancy his chances from 25 yards out here...




1917: ...it's so close to a sealer from Gareth Bale, the Welshman's whipped free-kick grazing the post and away. Jermaine Jenas comes on to replace Aaron Lennon.




1925: FULL-TIME Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham



1927: A cracking win for Tottenham, then, and one earned despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men. They move back up to fifth and are now just a point behind London rivals Chelsea. The Spurs players are celebrating wildly at Villa Park - I think they enjoyed that win and then some.

:new kit: :new kit:

Ten-man Tottenham held off Aston Villa for more than an hour and maintained their pursuit of the Premier League pace-setters as Rafael van der Vaart inspired them to an impressive victory.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp insists the north Londoners can mount a serious title challenge this season - and they added weight to his argument by surviving the first-half sending off of Jermain Defoe to demonstrate the character and quality required to secure three vital points.

Van der Vaart, back after injury, was the catalyst as he climaxed a sweeping move from the visitors involving Luka Modric and Alan Hutton to give them the lead after 23 minutes.

Defoe was shown a red card by referee Martin Atkinson four minutes later after he caught Villa defender James Collins with his elbow as they challenged for a high ball, the striker vehemently protesting his innocence to no avail.

Spurs made light of their numerical disadvantage and added a second midway through the second half with a classic counter-attack, Van der Vaart starting and finishing a fine move involving Gareth Bale's storming run and Aaron Lennon's neat pass.

Marc Albrighton's cross drifted beyond Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes with eight minutes left to set up the prospect of a grandstand finish, but for all Villa's effort they could not snatch an unlikely equaliser.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier's youthful side showed plenty of endeavour but were desperately short on the class their opponents had at their disposal and were heavily punished as they continued the struggles the Frenchman has endured since succeeding Martin O'Neill in the Villa Park hot-seat.

Tottenham, in contrast, provided further evidence of their growing maturity and strength of squad that has enabled them to perform with such distinction domestically and in the Champions League. And the capture of Van der Vaart for a bargain £8m on deadline day looks more of a masterstroke with every passing game and every defining contribution from the Netherlands international.

Aston Villa were without Ashley Young because of a knee injury, while the visitors were able to recall Van der Vaart, out since going off early against Liverpool at White Hart Lane in November. And the Dutchman played a decisive part in a pulsating first 45 minutes that ended with Redknapp's men holding an advantage their greater composure and cutting edge just about deserved.

In a flurry of activity in the opening moments, Gomes saved well from Albrighton's deflected shot, while Villa keeper Brad Friedel rushed from his line to defy Defoe as he raced clear into the area.

The home side then had strong penalty appeals rejected as Emile Heskey clashed with Gomes in a tussle for possession, referee Atkinson ruling that the Spurs keeper had just got a touch to the loose ball before there was any contact between the pair.

Redknapp's men then believed they were the victims of injustice when Younes Kaboul turned in Hutton's pass as the referee's assistant ruled the ball had already gone out of play - but they did not have to wait long to take the lead.

Modric was the creator with a diagonal pass of the highest calibre that exposed the left side of Villa's defence and when Hutton sent in his cross Van der Vaart side-footed a precise finish low past Friedel into the bottom corner.

Spurs were still celebrating taking the lead when Defoe was sent off for making contact with Collins in an aerial tussle. Defoe clearly felt there was no intent, but referee Atkinson did not hesitate to produce the red card.

Redknapp's side did not seem adversely affected by having only 10 men and Wilson Palacios was only inches away from adding a second with a rising drive from the edge of the area, a crucial touch from Friedel going unnoticed by the officials.

Houllier was forced into a reshuffle before the interval when Heskey limped off to be replaced by Nathan Delfouneso. The Villa boss made another alteration at the start of the second half, introducing the experienced Stilyan Petrov, fit after injury, for Jonathan Hogg.

Once again the home side were not short of possession, but they were short of quality - a brutal reality emphasised when Spurs broke brilliantly to add a second after 67 minutes, started and finished by Van der Vaart.

He released the rampaging Bale with a neat flick and, as he drove deep into Villa territory to release Lennon, Van der Vaart arrived with perfect timing to steer low past Friedel once more with his left foot.

It was Van der Vaart's final contribution as he was replaced by Peter Crouch, with Villa replacing the tiring Fabian Delph with veteran Robert Pires.

Pires was soon in the thick of the action when he was involved in an altercation with Redknapp on the sidelines following a foul on the Frenchman.

Albrighton's fortunate goal gave Spurs some anxious moments in the closing stages, but they held on to show once more that they could be contenders for the long haul in the Premier League this season.

ASTON VILLA Vs TOTTENHAM

Possession
Aston Villa 63% Tottenham 37%

Attempts on target
Aston Villa 15 Tottenham 8

Attempts off target
Aston Villa 11 Tottenham 5

Corners
Aston Villa 8 Tottenham 4

Fouls
Aston Villa 13 Tottenham 11

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insisted his side can have a "great" season after they beat Aston Villa 2-1 despite Jermain Defoe's sending-off.

Redknapp has previously said his side should be considered as title contenders while they are also into the Champions League's last 16.

And after the returning Rafael van der Vaart's double saw of Villa he said: "It was three great points.

"We fight to the end. Playing like this it should be a great season for us."

Spurs, reduced to 10-men for almost an hour, survived a late Villa fightback when Marc Albrighton scored.

And Redknapp was delighted with his side's battling qualities as they picked up a first win in four matches.

"Losing Jermain made it difficult, but we kept the ball well," Redknapp told BBC Sport.

"At half-time I said to the lads I felt there was another goal for us. In the second half they pressed us better but we hit them with a fantastic goal."

The three points ensured the north London outfit maintained the pressure on the Premier League's top four as they cemented their place fifth in the table.

Dutch midfielder Van der Vaart got Spurs off to a flying start when he finished off a stunning counter-attack before his team were reduced to 10 when Defoe was sent off for the use of a leading arm when jumping with Collins.

however Redknapp was not convinced the dismissal of the striker was a correct decision.

"It is not in the little fellow's nature to do that. I haven't seen a replay and I said at the time he must have caught him but a few of the lads have looked at it at half-time and felt it was a very harsh decision.

"The little fellow said there was no way he meant to catch him with his elbow and he was very unlucky I felt."

Despite their numerical advantage, Villa were restricted by a resolute defensive display with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Carlos Cuellar wasting the few chances the hosts did create.

Van der Vaart made sure of the points with a second strike and although Albrighton pulled one back with eight minutes left, Redknapp's men were left celebrating a crucial victory.

The Dutchman, recently recovered from a hamstring injury, was instrumental in the victory and took his tally of goals for the season to double figures in the process.

"Van der Vaart is a decent player among a lot of good players," added Redknapp.

"His goalscoring record is amazing and he is capable of getting 15 to 20 goals a year because he is such a fantastic finisher. His all-round game is fantastic."

He added: "When you can win away with 10 men I think we did a great job The second one was really important and then I had the feeling we would win the game"

Meanwhile, Villa boss Gerard Houllier remained upbeat despite the defeat leaving his side hovering dangerously four points above the relegation zone.

"I think it is a poor result, but not a poor performance," the Frenchman told BBC Sport.

"The mistake was made was conceding a second goal, after that we knew it was difficult. We got a goal and probably deserved an equaliser which we didn't get.

"We played better in the second half but the first goal killed us a bit as until then it was equal but you have to give credit to their performance.

"It is a shame we didn't manage to equalise but we have to blame ourselves for the mistakes we made."