Aston Villa climbed to sixth in the Premier League as Martin Laursen's late header gave them a 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
Tottenham fail to fire as Villa win 2-1
Aston Villa climbed to sixth in the Premier League as Martin Laursen's late header gave them a 2-1 victory over Tottenham.
It promised to be a thrilling game but Spurs looked a shadow of the side that tore Reading apart at the weekend as they struggled to offer anything as an attacking force in the first half.
Spurs still looked vulnerable in defence however, and Olof Mellberg capitalized on some slack marking from Michael Dawson after 41 minutes to head home Ashley Young's free-kick.
Jermain Defoe equalised with an acrobatic volley after 79 minutes, but more poor defending from a set-piece allowed Laursen to net the winning goal five minutes from time.
Several chances
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 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.
Spurs respond
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.
And 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.
