Keane to the rescue
A horrible outing saved by the heroic display of desperate Keane.
First half was forgettable.
Tanio should have scored from close range, Defoe should have buried the penalty. We should have been at least 4-0 down at half time except for the brilliant hands of Robinson who kept us in the game.
Jenas made that horrible back pass that began the Villa's attack which led to the goal.
Carrick was also out of sorts.
We missed Davids...and may be Mendas.
Second half was more purposeful.
Keane was the sparks....Look at his determination in getting to the ball and making the goal out of nothing.
Rasiak.....I got nothing to say....there is a gulf between Championship League and the EPL. Will it be another Postiga or Rebvro? I hope not.
Dear Jol, reward Keane with a start next game, he saved your skin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham: Sub Keane earns point
Robbie Keane enabled Spurs to end their goal drought as he came off the substitute's bench to rescue a point his side hardly deserved in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to hold down a regular spot this season with Martin Jol preferring the combination of Jermain Defoe and Mido until his current suspension.
But, after constant cries from the Spurs fans for his introduction, Keane salvaged a share of the spoils 12 minutes from time.
It was their first goal in 363 minutes of Premiership football but the real hero for Tottenham was Paul Robinson with the England goalkeeper pulling off a host of fine saves.
Until Keane entered the action Villa had been the better side.
Manager David O'Leary had demanded a positive response after the 4-0 mauling at West Ham five days ago and he would have been delighted with his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts produced some flowing football with Steven Davis impressive in the centre of the park while Milan Baros and the recalled Juan Pablo Angel linked up well.
Baros, in particular, was a constant threat to the Spurs rearguard and even at a cost of £6million the ex-Liverpool player looks to be a shrewd summer investment by O'Leary.
But Robinson's heroics kept Spurs in the hunt and, with Michael Carrick driving them on from the centre of the park, they managed to leave with honours even.
James Milner struck after only five minutes minute of his home debut.
Milner, who is on loan from Newcastle for the season, made no mistake with a low 25-yard angled shot which flew past the dive of Paul Robinson into the corner of the net.
Baros had set up the goal with a determined run down the left flank after Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas had given the ball away.
Villa dominated the early stages and could have easily scored twice more as the visitors defence looked all at sea.
Baros failed to make a clean contact on his left-footed shot after running onto Gareth Barry's through ball and Robinson was able to smother his effort.
Then the England number one made a fine reflex save to keep out a downward volley from Patrik Berger after Davis had supplied the teasing cross from the right.
Tottenham managed to weather the early onslaught and the recalled Teemu Tainio squandered a golden chance to put them back on level terms in the 21st minute.
Defoe managed to find a yard of space and he squared the ball across goal to find the onrushing Tainio but he lofted his close range effort over the bar.
Baros continued to be a threat to Spurs and King was yellow carded by referee Steve Bennett for upending the Czech.
But it needed a penalty save from Thomas Sorensen to deny Defoe an equaliser after 27 minutes. Villa defender Wilfred Bouma looked to control the ball with his arm as he challenged with Defoe for a high ball.
Bennett pointed straight to the spot but Defoe's low shot was parried away by Sorensen diving to his right. Sorensen drew further applause from the Villa fans after clinging onto a measured long range effort from Michael Carrick.
Spurs were forced into a change after 38 minutes with Gardner stretchered off with a leg injury after pulling up sharply and he was replaced by Noureddine Naybet.
Baros was booked for dissent after protesting too strongly over a free-kick awarded against Olof Mellberg but Villa were soon back on the offensive.
In first half injury-time Robinson saved a point-blank range header from Angel and a shot on the turn from the same player.
There was less excitement in the initial stages of the second period before the woodwork was struck twice in the space of 60 seconds.
First Liam Ridgewell met a free-kick from Berger and his left-footed volley beat Robinson and thundered back into play off the crossbar.
But Tottenham suffered the same disappointment when Defoe met a flick on from Rasiak, shrugged off Olof Mellberg's challenge and volleyed against the bar.
The game had come to life again and Angel would have been disappointed to drag his rising shot wide after Baros had found him in space on the left of the area.
Keane almost made an instant impact with Sorensen being forced to parry away a powerful volley from the Republic of Ireland international.
Naybet was yellow carded for hauling down the live-wire Baros who then curled his shot wide with only Robinson to beat after being put clear by Berger.
It proved a costly miss as Keane levelled against the run of play with a clinical finish after nipping in front of Barry before drilling a shot past Sorensen.
• Keane desperate for action
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane hopes his late leveller against Aston Villa will earn him a starting place under boss Martin Jol.
Keane told told Sky Premiership Plus: 'No player wants to sit on the bench, I was desperate to get on and luckily enough I did.'
Responding to his tag of `super-sub', Keane said: 'It's a horrible thing to have on your shoulders, and hopefully that will change in the next few games.
'It's up to you to work hard and hope you get a chance. I put my goal away so hopefully I'll get a start.'
Keane admitted his team were fortunate to get a point, adding on Premiership Plus: 'If they took their chances they may have won, but luckily we got a chance.
'It was nice to see a goal hit the back on the net, we've got great players at the club who can score goals, strikers go through spells but hopefully that will change.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who made a number of good saves, added: 'I think at half-time we would have taken a point.
'We played poorly in the first half, we are proud players and wanted to show what we were about. We came out and made amends.
'In our performances over the last few weeks we've done well, I'm delighted for Keano to get his goal.'
First half was forgettable.
Tanio should have scored from close range, Defoe should have buried the penalty. We should have been at least 4-0 down at half time except for the brilliant hands of Robinson who kept us in the game.
Jenas made that horrible back pass that began the Villa's attack which led to the goal.
Carrick was also out of sorts.
We missed Davids...and may be Mendas.
Second half was more purposeful.
Keane was the sparks....Look at his determination in getting to the ball and making the goal out of nothing.
Rasiak.....I got nothing to say....there is a gulf between Championship League and the EPL. Will it be another Postiga or Rebvro? I hope not.
Dear Jol, reward Keane with a start next game, he saved your skin.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham: Sub Keane earns point
Robbie Keane enabled Spurs to end their goal drought as he came off the substitute's bench to rescue a point his side hardly deserved in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to hold down a regular spot this season with Martin Jol preferring the combination of Jermain Defoe and Mido until his current suspension.
But, after constant cries from the Spurs fans for his introduction, Keane salvaged a share of the spoils 12 minutes from time.
It was their first goal in 363 minutes of Premiership football but the real hero for Tottenham was Paul Robinson with the England goalkeeper pulling off a host of fine saves.
Until Keane entered the action Villa had been the better side.
Manager David O'Leary had demanded a positive response after the 4-0 mauling at West Ham five days ago and he would have been delighted with his side's performance in the opening 45 minutes.
The hosts produced some flowing football with Steven Davis impressive in the centre of the park while Milan Baros and the recalled Juan Pablo Angel linked up well.
Baros, in particular, was a constant threat to the Spurs rearguard and even at a cost of £6million the ex-Liverpool player looks to be a shrewd summer investment by O'Leary.
But Robinson's heroics kept Spurs in the hunt and, with Michael Carrick driving them on from the centre of the park, they managed to leave with honours even.
James Milner struck after only five minutes minute of his home debut.
Milner, who is on loan from Newcastle for the season, made no mistake with a low 25-yard angled shot which flew past the dive of Paul Robinson into the corner of the net.
Baros had set up the goal with a determined run down the left flank after Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas had given the ball away.
Villa dominated the early stages and could have easily scored twice more as the visitors defence looked all at sea.
Baros failed to make a clean contact on his left-footed shot after running onto Gareth Barry's through ball and Robinson was able to smother his effort.
Then the England number one made a fine reflex save to keep out a downward volley from Patrik Berger after Davis had supplied the teasing cross from the right.
Tottenham managed to weather the early onslaught and the recalled Teemu Tainio squandered a golden chance to put them back on level terms in the 21st minute.
Defoe managed to find a yard of space and he squared the ball across goal to find the onrushing Tainio but he lofted his close range effort over the bar.
Baros continued to be a threat to Spurs and King was yellow carded by referee Steve Bennett for upending the Czech.
But it needed a penalty save from Thomas Sorensen to deny Defoe an equaliser after 27 minutes. Villa defender Wilfred Bouma looked to control the ball with his arm as he challenged with Defoe for a high ball.
Bennett pointed straight to the spot but Defoe's low shot was parried away by Sorensen diving to his right. Sorensen drew further applause from the Villa fans after clinging onto a measured long range effort from Michael Carrick.
Spurs were forced into a change after 38 minutes with Gardner stretchered off with a leg injury after pulling up sharply and he was replaced by Noureddine Naybet.
Baros was booked for dissent after protesting too strongly over a free-kick awarded against Olof Mellberg but Villa were soon back on the offensive.
In first half injury-time Robinson saved a point-blank range header from Angel and a shot on the turn from the same player.
There was less excitement in the initial stages of the second period before the woodwork was struck twice in the space of 60 seconds.
First Liam Ridgewell met a free-kick from Berger and his left-footed volley beat Robinson and thundered back into play off the crossbar.
But Tottenham suffered the same disappointment when Defoe met a flick on from Rasiak, shrugged off Olof Mellberg's challenge and volleyed against the bar.
The game had come to life again and Angel would have been disappointed to drag his rising shot wide after Baros had found him in space on the left of the area.
Keane almost made an instant impact with Sorensen being forced to parry away a powerful volley from the Republic of Ireland international.
Naybet was yellow carded for hauling down the live-wire Baros who then curled his shot wide with only Robinson to beat after being put clear by Berger.
It proved a costly miss as Keane levelled against the run of play with a clinical finish after nipping in front of Barry before drilling a shot past Sorensen.
• Keane desperate for action
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane hopes his late leveller against Aston Villa will earn him a starting place under boss Martin Jol.
Keane told told Sky Premiership Plus: 'No player wants to sit on the bench, I was desperate to get on and luckily enough I did.'
Responding to his tag of `super-sub', Keane said: 'It's a horrible thing to have on your shoulders, and hopefully that will change in the next few games.
'It's up to you to work hard and hope you get a chance. I put my goal away so hopefully I'll get a start.'
Keane admitted his team were fortunate to get a point, adding on Premiership Plus: 'If they took their chances they may have won, but luckily we got a chance.
'It was nice to see a goal hit the back on the net, we've got great players at the club who can score goals, strikers go through spells but hopefully that will change.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who made a number of good saves, added: 'I think at half-time we would have taken a point.
'We played poorly in the first half, we are proud players and wanted to show what we were about. We came out and made amends.
'In our performances over the last few weeks we've done well, I'm delighted for Keano to get his goal.'
posted by dgarden at 1:52 pm
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