Tottenham v Aston Villa

[bandini]

Tottenham fans will hope a return to White Hart Lane can see them find some form over the festive period.

Click here to vote on the outcome of the game.

Spurs came unstuck at Newcastle on Boxing Day, with the defeat their sixth away reverse of the campaign.

In contrast, Spurs have won seven of their nine games at home and Martin Jol will hope to add to the tally against Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

Villa's form has dipped in recent weeks and Saturday's loss to Manchester United extended their winless run to seven games, while they have not won at Spurs since April 2000.

Spurs seemed disrupted by the injury Jermain Defoe picked up in the warm-up at Newcastle and he is doubtful for the visit of Villa.

Jol, though, will have more time to formulate a plan and he could well opt to pair Mido with Dimitar Berbatov, as Robbie Keane is again sidelined with a knee problem.

Aaron Lennon is doubtful, having missed the trip to Newcastle, and Jermaine Jenas is also out.

Villa chief Martin O'Neill is unlikely to hit the panic button as he was happy with his side's display against Manchester United.

Gavin McCann is the major worry for Villa, as he passed a late fitness test on his hamstring to face United but did not finish the game.

Juan Pablo Angel and Milan Baros are pushing for starts and one of those two could come in for Chris Sutton.

Skysports.com Prediction: 2-0
Spurs to heap more misery on Villa.

Player to watch: Dimitar Berbatov

source: home.skysports.com

[Oliver_Kahn]

Tough one for Tottenham.
Villa are a good team and Tottenham come from a defeat, so let's see if they can fight back.

Player to watch: Dimitar Berbatov

If he feels lucky, the Villa keeper will have a nightmare game

[bandini]

Classic Truth is Spurs have not been all that lucky recently. So I hope their luck comes back!

[bandini]

Discussion can be read here

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe scored twice to defeat Aston Villa 2-1 and extend his side's winning streak at White Hart Lane.


GettyImages
Spurs' Pascal Chimbonda battles with Aston Villa's Gavin McCann.

Spurs had won their previous 11 home games but a draw, the result of the three previous meetings between these two teams, looked likely until Defoe pounced.

Gareth Barry pulled one back but Spurs held on and were grateful of the partnership Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov have created in the absence of Robbie Keane and Mido.

Berbatov created both goals and could have added to his own tally for the season in a clash which came to life in the second half.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have not won in eight matches.

Defoe, back for Spurs after missing the defeat at Newcastle with a knee injury, was lively in a first half short on quality.

The England striker was in the action immediately, having shots blocked by Craig Gardner and then Gareth Barry, then later in the opening half dragging an effort wide.

At the other end, Gardner seized on poor control by Michael Dawson to slip the ball through to Gabriel Agbonlahor early on, but Ledley King dashed back to make the tackle.

Agbonlahor's opportunity was a rare sight on goal for either side as both sides struggled to retain the ball.

Passes were a yard or two away from causing danger, and it took 18 minutes for the first save of the match.

Tom Huddlestone, with an eye for the spectacular this season following his goals against Port Vale and Manchester City, tried his luck again from long-range but Gabor Kiraly helped the ball over the crossbar.

Gardner forced Paul Robinson into a save midway through the first half with a long-range drive after Barry had cut in from the left, but the England goalkeeper was not put under too much pressure following his blunder at St James' Park at the weekend.

Berbatov almost took advantage of indecision in the Villa defence but he could only poke straight at Kiraly as the visitors backed away. Aaron Hughes was carried off on a stretcher when he collided with team-mate Olof Mellberg trying to stop the Bulgaria striker. Liam Ridgewell was brought on as a replacement.

Mellberg also needed treatment but played on until the break and helped keep Spurs at bay as they built a little momentum.

The centre-back slid in on Defoe as the striker looked to get a shot away from the edge of the area. Defoe then fired wide after latching on to a deft flick from Berbatov.

Berbatov then had an effort saved by Kiraly after Huddlestone had chipped over the Villa defence to release his team-mate.

Didier Zokora almost found Berbatov with a cross in first-half injury time, but the deadlock remained unbroken at the break.

Mellberg was replaced by Wilfred Bouma at the break, while Stiliyan Petrov was taken off for Isaiah Osbourne.

Milan Baros had a shot blocked by King on the edge of the area, while Osbourne sliced wide from a similar position.

Spurs, however, were ahead in the 58th minute when Berbatov wriggled free in front of the Villa the defence then slid the ball through to Defoe, who finished calmly for his 11th of the season.

Gardner surged forward midway through the second half in search of the equaliser, and Malbranque had to time his tackle perfectly to avert the danger.

Defoe doubled the lead, and his own tally for the day, when he controlled a Berbatov flick-on and lashed in at the near post.

Barry pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining when he held off Dawson and finished past Robinson, but Spurs held on for the spoils.

Defoe could have sealed a hat-trick late on but Kiraly saved. The striker was substituted for the final two minutes.

source: soccernet.com

Another great win for Spurs!!

[bandini]

I just watched the game and even though the first half was even I thought Spurs deserved the win and were the better team in the second half. Right at the end of the game Villa stepped it up, but it was too little too late and Defoe looked great and teamed up well again with Berbatov. Good win for Spurs who bounce back from Newcastle's defeat.

[kennethlindheim]

Good result, two nice goals by Defoe, and two nice assists by Berbatov.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Best striker pair in Premiership: Berbatov/Defoe

[Oliver_Kahn]

It's only luck

[bandini]

Originally Posted by Mighty T.A.L.

Best striker pair in Premiership: Berbatov/Defoe

TAL, you have me confused. I thought you said in another thread that Spurs were not that good. Are you being sarcastic about Berbatov and Defoe?

Funny thing is the commentators were saying that Keane was sorely missed until Defoe scored the goals that is Berbatov did link up well with him several times.