Aston Villa 2 Tottenham 1
Martin Laursen atoned for a dreadful first-half miss by scoring a late winner for Aston Villa as they maintained their push for a European place with a 2-1 home win over Tottenham.
The Denmark international shot over from close range with the goal at his mercy, before Olof Mellberg broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval.
Jermain Defoe looked to have rescued a point for Spurs when he volleyed home after 79 minutes in only his second league start of the campaign, but Laursen had the final say with his fifth goal of the campaign.
It means Villa are unbeaten during the festive period with eight points from their four-match spell.
• Villa desire impresses O'Neill
Once again Martin O'Neill's side emphasised how effective they are at set-pieces with the double strike from Mellberg and Laursen.
They have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other Premier League side, with 18 of their 37 goals this season from corners or free-kicks.
Villa deserved their win and they would have not needed Laursen's late effort had they converted several gilt-edged chances.
Spurs struggled to contain the threat of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, who was also a rock-solid performer in his defensive role.
The visitors had scored 11 goals in their previous two games, but they posed little threat for long periods.
Villa were soon on the offensive and after five minutes the recalled Luke Moore, starting for the first time since early November, missed a golden chance.
Agbonlahor got in behind the defence before checking back in favour of Stiliyan Petrov, whose first-time ball into the box picked out Moore.
The former England Under-21 striker turned sharply past Michael Dawson but then dragged his shot wide of the far post when he should have at least hit the target.
A first-time flick from Moore then found Agbonlahor in space on the edge of the Tottenham box, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.
Paul Robinson looked unconvincing when punching away a hard-driven corner from Young and in pushing out another dipping free-kick by the same player.
Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque became the first player to be booked after 23 minutes for a touchline challenge on Moore.
Villa continued to look the more threatening and central defender Laursen should have put them ahead.
Petrov's low cross into the near post was only half-cleared to the unmarked Dane eight yards out, but he managed to loft the ball over the crossbar.
Dawson was having problems containing Agbonlahor and became the second Tottenham player to be cautioned after clattering into the back of the Villa striker.
It was no surprise when Mellberg broke the deadlock after 41 minutes with his second goal of the season.
Young won yet another free-kick after being fouled by Kevin Prince-Boating and his centre was met by the unmarked Mellberg, who headed past Robinson into the corner of the net.
Tottenham retaliated and Carson blocked a fierce shot from Dimitar Berbatov after the ball had broken into his path from a Jenas free-kick.
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos waited only eight minutes of the second half before introducing top scorer Robbie Keane in place of the ineffective Aaron Lennon.
Villa defender Curtis Davies was relieved when he deflected a shot from Keane over his own crossbar.
Spurs enjoyed more of the pressure than in the opening 45 minutes, but the better opportunities still fell to Villa.
Moore missed his second clear-cut chance when he sliced his shot wide from Petrov's low cross and Tottenham had penalty claims rejected after a challenge by Davies on Keane.
Defoe levelled matters with an opportunist strike, but then Laursen had the final say to keep Villa in the hunt for at least a UEFA Cup place.
Villa desire impresses O'Neill
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill hailed his side's 'fantastic desire' after they left it late to see off Tottenham at Villa Park.
Jermain Defoe looked to have secured a point for the visitors when he cancelled out Olof Mellberg's opener but Martin Laursen popped up with five minutes remaining to maintain Villa's fine form over the festive period.
They have now claimed eight points from their four games and are well poised to make a push for a Champions League spot.
'I was worried before the game because Tottenham have been in fantastic form,' O'Neill told Sky Sports.
'I was concerned about our energy because of the big efforts in games we've played recently.
'I thought our energy might drop a little but we showed fantastic desire.
'No-one epitomised that more than Laursen. He was incredible tonight.'
Mellberg feels his side's form over Christmas will be crucial to how they perform in the second half of the campaign.
'It's a very important victory,' he said.
'We were talking about the period at Christmas and last season we didn't do that well and we struggled after that.
'These games are massive, especially Tottenham. It's a big win and to get a win at home is important.'
Tottenham assistant coach Gus Poyet said the Spurs side paid the price for defensive errors, claiming the team panic when faced with corners or free-kicks.
'We conceded two goals from set-pieces again. It is not about individuals. Week-in, week-out it is a different player so it becomes a team problem,' he said.
'We didn't play well in the first half. I think we were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time.
'It was a great effort by the players and a great understanding of the system by the players to come back but as soon as it is a corner or a free-kick [out] wide it is panic.'
Poyet also dismissed the speculation about star striker Dimitar Berbatov wanting to leave the club in the transfer window.
'He is under contract. All of you love rumours. There is nothing on the table and there is nothing happening,' added the Uruguayan.
'It is not a problem for us. We are happy with Berba, he is here and it is no drama.
'We want to improve and we want to go to a better level - he has to stay.'
The Denmark international shot over from close range with the goal at his mercy, before Olof Mellberg broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval.
Jermain Defoe looked to have rescued a point for Spurs when he volleyed home after 79 minutes in only his second league start of the campaign, but Laursen had the final say with his fifth goal of the campaign.
It means Villa are unbeaten during the festive period with eight points from their four-match spell.
• Villa desire impresses O'Neill
Once again Martin O'Neill's side emphasised how effective they are at set-pieces with the double strike from Mellberg and Laursen.
They have scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other Premier League side, with 18 of their 37 goals this season from corners or free-kicks.
Villa deserved their win and they would have not needed Laursen's late effort had they converted several gilt-edged chances.
Spurs struggled to contain the threat of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, who was also a rock-solid performer in his defensive role.
The visitors had scored 11 goals in their previous two games, but they posed little threat for long periods.
Villa were soon on the offensive and after five minutes the recalled Luke Moore, starting for the first time since early November, missed a golden chance.
Agbonlahor got in behind the defence before checking back in favour of Stiliyan Petrov, whose first-time ball into the box picked out Moore.
The former England Under-21 striker turned sharply past Michael Dawson but then dragged his shot wide of the far post when he should have at least hit the target.
A first-time flick from Moore then found Agbonlahor in space on the edge of the Tottenham box, but he pulled his shot wide of the post.
Paul Robinson looked unconvincing when punching away a hard-driven corner from Young and in pushing out another dipping free-kick by the same player.
Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque became the first player to be booked after 23 minutes for a touchline challenge on Moore.
Villa continued to look the more threatening and central defender Laursen should have put them ahead.
Petrov's low cross into the near post was only half-cleared to the unmarked Dane eight yards out, but he managed to loft the ball over the crossbar.
Dawson was having problems containing Agbonlahor and became the second Tottenham player to be cautioned after clattering into the back of the Villa striker.
It was no surprise when Mellberg broke the deadlock after 41 minutes with his second goal of the season.
Young won yet another free-kick after being fouled by Kevin Prince-Boating and his centre was met by the unmarked Mellberg, who headed past Robinson into the corner of the net.
Tottenham retaliated and Carson blocked a fierce shot from Dimitar Berbatov after the ball had broken into his path from a Jenas free-kick.
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos waited only eight minutes of the second half before introducing top scorer Robbie Keane in place of the ineffective Aaron Lennon.
Villa defender Curtis Davies was relieved when he deflected a shot from Keane over his own crossbar.
Spurs enjoyed more of the pressure than in the opening 45 minutes, but the better opportunities still fell to Villa.
Moore missed his second clear-cut chance when he sliced his shot wide from Petrov's low cross and Tottenham had penalty claims rejected after a challenge by Davies on Keane.
Defoe levelled matters with an opportunist strike, but then Laursen had the final say to keep Villa in the hunt for at least a UEFA Cup place.
Villa desire impresses O'Neill
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill hailed his side's 'fantastic desire' after they left it late to see off Tottenham at Villa Park.
Jermain Defoe looked to have secured a point for the visitors when he cancelled out Olof Mellberg's opener but Martin Laursen popped up with five minutes remaining to maintain Villa's fine form over the festive period.
They have now claimed eight points from their four games and are well poised to make a push for a Champions League spot.
'I was worried before the game because Tottenham have been in fantastic form,' O'Neill told Sky Sports.
'I was concerned about our energy because of the big efforts in games we've played recently.
'I thought our energy might drop a little but we showed fantastic desire.
'No-one epitomised that more than Laursen. He was incredible tonight.'
Mellberg feels his side's form over Christmas will be crucial to how they perform in the second half of the campaign.
'It's a very important victory,' he said.
'We were talking about the period at Christmas and last season we didn't do that well and we struggled after that.
'These games are massive, especially Tottenham. It's a big win and to get a win at home is important.'
Tottenham assistant coach Gus Poyet said the Spurs side paid the price for defensive errors, claiming the team panic when faced with corners or free-kicks.
'We conceded two goals from set-pieces again. It is not about individuals. Week-in, week-out it is a different player so it becomes a team problem,' he said.
'We didn't play well in the first half. I think we were lucky to be only 1-0 down at half-time.
'It was a great effort by the players and a great understanding of the system by the players to come back but as soon as it is a corner or a free-kick [out] wide it is panic.'
Poyet also dismissed the speculation about star striker Dimitar Berbatov wanting to leave the club in the transfer window.
'He is under contract. All of you love rumours. There is nothing on the table and there is nothing happening,' added the Uruguayan.
'It is not a problem for us. We are happy with Berba, he is here and it is no drama.
'We want to improve and we want to go to a better level - he has to stay.'
posted by dgarden at 10:12 am
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