Villa sink sorry Spurs

Aston Villa climbed up to fourth spot in the table with a 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Spurs still looking for first win of the season

Aston Villa climbed up to fourth spot in the table with a 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Goals from Nigel Reo-Coker and Ashley Young were enough to give Villa a deserved win although they were made to sweat after Darren Bent pulled back a fortuitous goal three minutes from time. The defeat leave Spurs rooted to the bottom of the table and still looking for their first win of the campaign. Reo-Coker gave Villa the lead after just five minutes when he slotted home Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross from the left from close-range to net his first league goal for the club. Young added a second on 54 minutes when he saw his shot from the edge of the box squirm under the body of Heurelho Gomes and trickle into the net. Spurs gave themselves hope three minutes from time when Bent deflected Jermaine Jenas' shot past Brad Friedel, but Villa held on for the victory. The corresponding fixture last year resulted in eight goals shared and Spurs' dramatic comeback completed in the last seconds - and the way both teams started suggested they were in the mood for more of the same. With Franco Baldini from Fabio Capello's backroom staff watching in the stands, Villa broke the deadlock in the fifth minute with a goal made by three of Villa's seven Englishmen in their starting XI.

Opener

Winger Young had fed Agbonlahor down the left flank and his low cross found its way to the far post, after John Carew's attempted flick. Reo-Coker did not take a touch and stroked the ball in at the the near post, his first league goal for Villa. Luka Modric attempted to get Spurs back into the game with a run and shot that was saved by Friedel - his only contribution before hobbling off with a knock - but it could have got worse for the hosts. Reo-Coker had a cross deflected that sliced towards Gomes' goal and hit the post. The scoreline made for an open game, and Gomes kept Spurs within reach with two saves from the top drawer. The first was when Gareth Barry got on the end of Agbonlahor's cross - the ball was behind the Brazilian when he clawed it away. Then Agbonlahor met Shorey's cross at the far post and Gomes punched to safety. Spurs head coach Juande Ramos sent on David Bentley at the break and the England midfielder came sprinting out of the dressing room first, signalling his intent.

Save

Spurs pushed forward and Friedel was required to tip a swerving Aaron Lennon half-volley over the crossbar - but they were two goals adrift within nine minutes of the restart. Villa's second started with Barry getting out of trouble in his own territory by tricking Jermaine Jenas and Pavlyuchenko with a sharp turn. He fed midfielder Young on the halfway line and the former Watford player headed towards goal, breezing past Michael Dawson and then firing a skidding shot that crept under Gomes' dive. Bent grabbed his goal with four minutes remaining when he failed to get out of the way of Jenas' shot - the ball struck his ankles and flew past Friedel. Jenas then blocked on the line from Villa substitute Marlon Harewood when a third goal looked a certainty.

Tottenham Hotspur	Team Statistics	Aston Villa
1	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	1
5	Shots on Target	8
7	Shots off Target	3
8	Blocked Shots	4
12	Corners	8
17	Fouls	13
0	Offsides	1
1	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
81.2	Passing Success	70.9
18	Tackles	29
83.3	Tackles Success	79.3
62.5	Possession	37.5
56.7	Territorial Advantage	43.3