Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa
Tottenham's quest for Champions League football faltered as they were held 0-0 by Aston Villa at White Hart Lane.
The home side had most of the game, but were defied by dogged defending by Villa, who had Gareth Barry sent off after two yellow cards for fouls on Aaron Lennon inside the last eight minutes.
Despite missing muscular Egyptian striker Mido, who was on African Nations Cup duty, Tottenham made nearly all the running, but were foiled by a stern defensive effort and four excellent saves by Thomas Sorensen.
Jermain Defoe started only his second match in the last 12 for the home side as replacement for Mido as the north London team looked to cement fourth place in the Barclays Premiership after successive defeats - including an FA Cup exit.
With Paul Stalteri suspended, Stephen Kelly was brought in at full-back, while Villa boss David O'Leary called up Lee Hendrie, a goalscoring substitute last week against West Ham, to replace midfielder Eirik Bakke - who has returned to Leeds after a loan.
Colombian Juan Pablo Angel got the vote up front for Villa alongside Milan Baros, with Barry returning to the defence after a one-match ban.
Spurs took six minutes to raise the first shot after good work by Edgar Davids to plunder possession and set up a decent effort by Defoe, who saw Sorensen fall on his low drive.
Two minutes later Davids drilled a dangerous attempt into the sidenetting - another reminder to Villa they conceded five goals at White Hart Lane last season and would have to be careful against nimble front men Defoe and Robbie Keane.
Kelly slipped Jermaine Jenas through to fire over a low cross in the 17th minute, which Sorensen did well to hold, before Jenas found another path through on the right but shot off target.
A spectacular break by Davids took him from one penalty box to another after Villa had enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, but he was crowded out before he could shoot.
The move inspired Spurs, though, and when Michael Carrick played a deft ball through in the 28th minute, Teemu Tainio lobbed over Sorensen - but the Dane scrambled back to turn the ball over when a goal looked certain.
Captain Olof Mellberg came to Villa's rescue in the 32nd minute when Defoe, who had just failed to gather a half chance a few moments earlier, put his head down and charged in on goal - only to be well tackled by the defender.
Just before half-time Jenas was carried off after a clash of heads with Angel, to be replaced by Lennon.
The teams went in at the interval on level terms - with the half ending shortly after Davids had seen a shot in the fifth minute of time added on blocked after Carrick had tapped a free-kick to him.
Tainio went close with a header at the start of the second half and it needed a well-timed tackle by Barry to prevent the same player getting in a low shot soon after.
Davids was furious with Mark Delaney when the Villa defender cynically fouled him and Defoe had to step in to make sure the Dutchman did not lose his temper completely.
Referee Graham Poll produced a yellow card for Baros in the 58th minute when he hauled down Davids from behind.
Davids hobbled off for treatment just after the hour and - despite returning to the pitch - soon headed down the tunnel to be replaced by Michael Brown.
Defoe tried his luck from 30 yards, but it was desperation stuff and flew straight into Sorensen's arms.
Lennon drifted past two challenges to lob a far-post cross which nobody could reach, then was denied by another timely Mellberg tackle as he was set to shoot.
Tottenham used a third substitute when Grzegorz Rasiak replaced Defoe with 14 minutes left and two minutes later they were defied, when Sorensen dived full-stretch to push aside Carrick's 25-yard effort.
After Barry's dismissal, O'Leary took off substitute Luke Moore - introduced a few minutes earlier for Baros - and replaced him with Jlloyd Samuel.
The game finished with Villa on the back foot, with Sorensen making another great save from Brown in stoppage time, but the visitors got their point.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol admitted his frustration after his side failed to capitalise on Arsenal's defeat by Everton as Spurs were held to a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa.
Jol said: 'We played good football from the back and the only frustration is that we could not make a gap with Arsenal in fourth place after they lost at Everton.
'But there were a lot of positives to come out of it for us. Everybody played well although maybe I can't say that about our goalkeeper Paul Robinson because I can't remember him picking up a single difficult ball.'
Jol added: 'Their keeper made some marvellous saves and he had the luck with him on a few occasions. Sometimes it happens like that.'
Spurs were without nine-goal Egyptian striker Mido who was on African Nations Cup duty and Jermain Defoe was given only his second start in 12 games.
Jol said: 'Against a defence like Villa's you need somebody who is strong physically and we played directly in flashes. Jermain had a lot of movement and his confidence was high.
'Every time I bring Aaron Lennon on I'm waiting for him to dribble and he did plenty of that but we couldn't score and that was the only problem.'
By the time Barry was dismissed for two fouls on Lennon, Spurs had also lost midfielders Jermaine Jenas after a clash of heads and Edgar Davids with a damaged knee.
Jol said: 'Edgar will have a scan to see how bad the damage is and Jermaine has a lump on his head but should be okay for the next game.'
Aston Villa manager David O'Leary admitted: 'When teams come to Spurs these days they know they are in for some hard work. They have bought high quality and always play good football.
'Our centre-backs played very well - and they needed - to while Thomas Sorensen made some great saves although by his standards it was just what I expected.'
The home side had most of the game, but were defied by dogged defending by Villa, who had Gareth Barry sent off after two yellow cards for fouls on Aaron Lennon inside the last eight minutes.
Despite missing muscular Egyptian striker Mido, who was on African Nations Cup duty, Tottenham made nearly all the running, but were foiled by a stern defensive effort and four excellent saves by Thomas Sorensen.
Jermain Defoe started only his second match in the last 12 for the home side as replacement for Mido as the north London team looked to cement fourth place in the Barclays Premiership after successive defeats - including an FA Cup exit.
With Paul Stalteri suspended, Stephen Kelly was brought in at full-back, while Villa boss David O'Leary called up Lee Hendrie, a goalscoring substitute last week against West Ham, to replace midfielder Eirik Bakke - who has returned to Leeds after a loan.
Colombian Juan Pablo Angel got the vote up front for Villa alongside Milan Baros, with Barry returning to the defence after a one-match ban.
Spurs took six minutes to raise the first shot after good work by Edgar Davids to plunder possession and set up a decent effort by Defoe, who saw Sorensen fall on his low drive.
Two minutes later Davids drilled a dangerous attempt into the sidenetting - another reminder to Villa they conceded five goals at White Hart Lane last season and would have to be careful against nimble front men Defoe and Robbie Keane.
Kelly slipped Jermaine Jenas through to fire over a low cross in the 17th minute, which Sorensen did well to hold, before Jenas found another path through on the right but shot off target.
A spectacular break by Davids took him from one penalty box to another after Villa had enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, but he was crowded out before he could shoot.
The move inspired Spurs, though, and when Michael Carrick played a deft ball through in the 28th minute, Teemu Tainio lobbed over Sorensen - but the Dane scrambled back to turn the ball over when a goal looked certain.
Captain Olof Mellberg came to Villa's rescue in the 32nd minute when Defoe, who had just failed to gather a half chance a few moments earlier, put his head down and charged in on goal - only to be well tackled by the defender.
Just before half-time Jenas was carried off after a clash of heads with Angel, to be replaced by Lennon.
The teams went in at the interval on level terms - with the half ending shortly after Davids had seen a shot in the fifth minute of time added on blocked after Carrick had tapped a free-kick to him.
Tainio went close with a header at the start of the second half and it needed a well-timed tackle by Barry to prevent the same player getting in a low shot soon after.
Davids was furious with Mark Delaney when the Villa defender cynically fouled him and Defoe had to step in to make sure the Dutchman did not lose his temper completely.
Referee Graham Poll produced a yellow card for Baros in the 58th minute when he hauled down Davids from behind.
Davids hobbled off for treatment just after the hour and - despite returning to the pitch - soon headed down the tunnel to be replaced by Michael Brown.
Defoe tried his luck from 30 yards, but it was desperation stuff and flew straight into Sorensen's arms.
Lennon drifted past two challenges to lob a far-post cross which nobody could reach, then was denied by another timely Mellberg tackle as he was set to shoot.
Tottenham used a third substitute when Grzegorz Rasiak replaced Defoe with 14 minutes left and two minutes later they were defied, when Sorensen dived full-stretch to push aside Carrick's 25-yard effort.
After Barry's dismissal, O'Leary took off substitute Luke Moore - introduced a few minutes earlier for Baros - and replaced him with Jlloyd Samuel.
The game finished with Villa on the back foot, with Sorensen making another great save from Brown in stoppage time, but the visitors got their point.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol admitted his frustration after his side failed to capitalise on Arsenal's defeat by Everton as Spurs were held to a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa.
Jol said: 'We played good football from the back and the only frustration is that we could not make a gap with Arsenal in fourth place after they lost at Everton.
'But there were a lot of positives to come out of it for us. Everybody played well although maybe I can't say that about our goalkeeper Paul Robinson because I can't remember him picking up a single difficult ball.'
Jol added: 'Their keeper made some marvellous saves and he had the luck with him on a few occasions. Sometimes it happens like that.'
Spurs were without nine-goal Egyptian striker Mido who was on African Nations Cup duty and Jermain Defoe was given only his second start in 12 games.
Jol said: 'Against a defence like Villa's you need somebody who is strong physically and we played directly in flashes. Jermain had a lot of movement and his confidence was high.
'Every time I bring Aaron Lennon on I'm waiting for him to dribble and he did plenty of that but we couldn't score and that was the only problem.'
By the time Barry was dismissed for two fouls on Lennon, Spurs had also lost midfielders Jermaine Jenas after a clash of heads and Edgar Davids with a damaged knee.
Jol said: 'Edgar will have a scan to see how bad the damage is and Jermaine has a lump on his head but should be okay for the next game.'
Aston Villa manager David O'Leary admitted: 'When teams come to Spurs these days they know they are in for some hard work. They have bought high quality and always play good football.
'Our centre-backs played very well - and they needed - to while Thomas Sorensen made some great saves although by his standards it was just what I expected.'
posted by dgarden at 8:55 am
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