Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 1

Skipper Gareth Barry's superb strike rescued Aston Villa's unbeaten record and spared striker Juan Pablo Angel's blushes in a pulsating 1-1 draw with Tottenham, who finished with 10 men.

Angel sent his spot-kick wide after Spurs defender Calum Davenport had been red-carded for a professional foul and then with 14 minutes remaining headed a Jermain Defoe corner into his own net.

But Barry salvaged a draw, although Spurs will take satisfaction from gaining their first away point of the campaign.

Tottenham were comfortably the better side in the opening 45 minutes, with Danny Murphy and Jermaine Jenas impressing in the centre of the park, while Defoe looked sharp up front.

Former Arsenal player Stuart Taylor, who was deputising for shoulder injury victim Thomas Sorensen, was far the busier of the two keepers.

But Villa, for whom Stiliyan Petrov caught the eye in the centre of the park, came more into the game after the interval and almost won it in a grand finale.

Paul Robinson was greeted by a crescendo of boos when he took his place in the Spurs goal in front of the Holte End after his blunder for England in Croatia.

The first save of note came from Taylor after 15 minutes when he beat out a powerful effort from the edge of the box by Defoe, who managed to create a yard of space for himself.

Hossam Ghaly was spoken to by referee Martin Atkinson after a late challenge on Petrov, before Villa tested Robinson for the first time.

Baros made space down the right before turning an inviting ball back into the path of Angel, whose first-time drive was gathered by Robinson.

Michael Dawson missed a golden chance to put Spurs ahead after 21 minutes after McCann was adjudged to have fouled Didier Zokora.

Murphy's free-kick was flicked on by Jermaine Jenas to Dawson, who was unmarked barely a yard from goal.

But he sent his header against the base of a post and the rebound hit Villa defender Liam Ridgewell and ended up in the arms of a relieved Taylor.

The visitors were starting to get on top with Murphy and Jenas impressing in the centre of the park.

Another Murphy free-kick caused problems to the Villa defence and a Ghaly volley was turned aside by Taylor.

Defoe was looking sharp and Taylor was forced to beat out another effort after he had dispossessed Hughes.

Taylor clung onto Jenas' thumping drive, before Villa created their best chance of the opening half in injury time.

Baros spun past Davenport after receiving a McCann pass and found himself with only Robinson to beat, but he hesitated and the opportunity was squandered.

Dawson needed treatment in the opening seconds of the second period after accidentally being caught on the side of the head by Angel and he was eventually substituted by Paul Stalteri.

Pascal Chimbonda moved into the centre of the Spurs defence alongside Davenport, with Stalteri slotting in at right-back.

Ghaly was yellow-carded for bringing down Baros in full flight as Martin O'Neill's side began to knock the ball around in more confident fashion.

Spurs boss Martin Jol brought on Aaron Lennon after 59 minutes in place of Ghaly for his first senior action since recovering from a knee ligament injury.

Gabriel Agbonlahor almost scored in the 69th minute when he met a cross from substitute Didier Agathe, but Robinson was alert and managed to parry the ball away.

Davenport was sent off after 73 minutes after being adjudged to have committed a professional foul on Agbonlahor in the box.

But Angel let Tottenham off the hook by sending the spot-kick wide of Robinson's goal.

Then, in the 76th minute, Angel headed a harmless-looking corner from Defoe into his own net, although Taylor should have come and claimed the ball.

Back came Villa and Barry's superb strike rescued a share of the spoils with nine minutes remaining, before Robinson beat out Angel's fierce drive.

Tottenham manager Martin Jol was left to reflect on a string of missed first-half opportunities as a late Gareth Barry goal earned Aston Villa a 1-1 draw to protect their unbeaten record.

Tottenham dominated the opening 45 minutes but poor finishing and several fine saves by Stuart Taylor kept the home side in the hunt.

The visitors finally went ahead through an own goal by Juan Pablo Angel - just 90 seconds after he had missed a penalty in an incident which saw Spurs defender Calum Davenport sent off.

But Barry extended Villa's run without defeat to eight games with a rocket shot after producing another man of the match performance.

Jol said: 'In the first half we controlled play and we should have scored. We didn't and we were left with that awkward feeling again.

'We did well against Liverpool and Manchester United in a similar way but we have to start putting the ball in the net.

'The second half was totally different. We had to reorganise twice at the back with Michael Dawson going off injured and Calum Davenport being sent off.

'They put us under pressure and we could have lost in the end but overall I can live with a point and that opening 45 minutes we looked a decent team again.'

Jol felt the spot kick awarded by referee Martin Atkinson was harsh with Davenport being red-carded for bringing down Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.

He said: 'It was difficult for the referee to make a decision but you can see on television that it was no penalty.'

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will consider whether to relieve Angel of his penalty duties. The Colombian also had a spot-kick saved in the Carling Cup tie with Scunthorpe, although he netted from the rebound.

O'Neill said: 'The missing of the penalty was bad enough but then he puts the ball in his own net straight after. It is 90 seconds Juan will want to forget.

'Will he take the next penalty? We will have to think about that one.'

O'Neill admitted his side only started to fire on all cylinders once they had gone behind with just under a quarter of an hour remaining.

He said: 'Tottenham were the better side in the first half when we didn't get enough momentum going. We didn't play well enough until we went behind.

'From that moment on we were stirred into playing some of the football we have been showing this season and Gareth Barry scored a fantastic goal.

'We had more chances in the last 12 to 15 minutes than we had in the rest of the game but I'm delighted because we could have packed it in for the day after going behind but we kept going.'