Aston Villa Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

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Aston Villa Vs Tottenham​

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Spurs eye third place while Villa nervously seek safety


Tottenham can consolidate their chances of UEFA Champions League qualification with a win at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs appear to have halted a poor run of form following two convincing wins over relegation duo Blackburn and Bolton.

They face another side fighting against the drop, with Alex McLeish's Villa above the trapdoor by just three points.

Time may be on the Villans' side with just two games remaining, but it will be an uncomfortable fortnight ahead, with a final-day encounter with Norwich City looming.

Tottenham's recent history at Villa has been solid, having won in two of their last three visits and the North London club will be desperate to add another victory this weekend.

Wednesday's 4-1 win at the Reebok Stadium was essential given Newcastle's

2-0 win atChelsea,

as it meant that Harry Redknapp's side maintained their grip on fourth place, staying above the Magpies on goal difference.

But it also closed the gap on third-placed Arsenal

to just a point, and - with the Gunners facing mid-table sides West Brom

and Norwich in their final two games - the race for third may not be over.

Indeed, third place will become even more important should Chelsea win the Champions League later in May, as Tottenham, Arsenal and Newcastle cannot qualify for the competition if they finish fourth and the Blues

succeed against Bayern Munich.

Spurs' return to form has coincided with Roy Hodgson

taking over as the new England manager and consequently ruling out Harry Redknapp from the post.
Although Redknapp has denied suggestions that the speculation affected his players, his coaching staff has revealed that they felt it had been a contributing factor to their poor form.

Before the wins over Blackburn and Bolton, Tottenham had not won in four games and had not scored in four away matches.


Endured

But that form is nothing compared to what Aston Villa

fans have endured in recent months; with a 1-0 win over Fulham being the only victory they have had since January.

McLeish has come under increased pressure from the club's supporters as they hover nervously over the relegation zone.

If they fail to beat Spurs, attention will turn to results elsewhere as they will hope that West Brom and Stoke can win at Bolton and QPR respectively, before focus turns to Monday's showdown between Blackburn and Wigan.
Their battle against relegation has not been helped this week following the antics of trio James Collins, Chris Herd and Fabian Delph, who have been disciplined following a nightclub fracas on Tuesday.

The club have since released a statement explaining that everyone is "completely focused on Sunday's game against Spurs at Villa Park."



Team News

Stephen Ireland could return to Aston Villa's starting XI for the clash with Tottenham after missing games against Bolton and West Brom with a hip and hamstring problem.

Collins is a doubt having missed training due to a groin injury, with Carlos Cuellar potentially retaining his place in the centre of defence.

Andi Weimann may be given a start by McLeish, with the striker challenging Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey for a place in the team.

With Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto ruled out for the season, Redknapp is likely to name an unchanged line-up.

That would mean another start for Danny Rose who has had to play in an unfamiliar full-back role due to the Cameroonian's absence.

Kyle Walker

has signed a new contract with the club and will be on a high after scoring at home to Blackburn last week.​

 

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Aston Villa's Darren Bent has ruled himself out of their last two matches of the season due to his ankle injury.

Manager Alex McLeish has been boosted though by the return of Stephen Ireland from a hip problem.

Tottenham expect Scott Parker to return after missing the last two matches with an Achilles injury.

Kyle Walker broke a toe during Wednesday's win over Bolton but will be fit to play after a pain-killing injection.

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Plenty to play for at Villa Park with Aston Villa just three points above the relegation zone and Tottenham eager to strengthen their hold on fourth place. Villa's preparations have been less than smooth with three players disciplined for their part in a nightclub fracas in the early hours of Tuesday morning.


Spurs' week has been rather better with the news that Harry Redknapp wouldn't be leaving after all, followed by a 4-1 win at Bolton.

Redknapp's got a great record against Villa in recent seasons, with an 11-match unbeaten run against them in the Premier League, stretching back to his days in charge of Portsmouth, who lost away to Villa six years ago.

He'll have been delighted with the response of his players at the Reebok the other night as they look for some late season momentum to see them over the line.

These are worrying times for Villa supporters with their team perilously close to the drop zone and the last home game, a 2-1 defeat to Bolton, ended with a torrent of abuse directed towards manager Alex McLeish. He's trying to avoid a second relegation in 12 months having taken neighbours Birmnigham City down only last year.

Villa's current form indicators all point in the wrong direction and it may yet be the failings of others below them that saves their place in the league, rather than anything they achieve themselves over the next two games.

One of the big problems, among many, for them has been the number of drawn games. Sixteen so far, which is just one short of their own Premier League record set five years ago and shared with the Newcastle team of 2003-4.



With two matches left to play, Aston Villa will have to win both of their remaining games if they are to avoid ending with their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League era.

Perhaps the most damning statistic of Aston Villa's miserable season is their home record. If they fail to win today it will set a new club record low of just four home wins. Until now the lowest win total was five in 1890, but don't forget they only played 11 at home back then because it was a 12-team league.

So this season's effort is really the worst in the club's history whatever happens against Spurs.

Head-to-head​

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• Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six league matches against Aston Villa. Spurs recorded 2-1 victories home and away last season, with Rafael van der Vaart scoring twice on both occasions and Marc Albrighton netting Villa's goal each time. Emmanuel Adebayor scored both goals in Tottenham's 2-0 win at White Hart Lane this season.
• Spurs have lost just one of their last six matches at Villa Park.

Aston Villa

• Alex McLeish's Birmingham side had two points more at the same stage last season (39) than Villa currently have (37) and still ended up being relegated.
• They have drawn 16 league matches this season (seven of them 0-0) which is just one short of the Premier League record set by Villa themselves in 2006-07 and Newcastle in 2003-04.
• The club need to win their remaining two games to better their lowest ever Premier League points tally of 42 from 2005-06.

Tottenham

• Luka Modric's opening goal against Bolton on Wednesday was Tottenham's first away from home since they went 2-0 up at Arsenal on 26 February, 66 days ago.
• The Bolton victory was their first away from White Hart Lane in the league in 2012.
• If they win their last two matches they will finish with 71 points, which will be their highest top-flight tally since the 1986-87 season (also 71 points).

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[Spurger King]

COYS!!!

 

[kishman]

Such a big game. Need a win so we can be above Arsenal going into the final day of the season.

 

[Misfit]

Push to the max. Reach the limit. Go extreme. Etc.

 

[bomberH]

Although i predicted a 2-1 away win in another thread, i think people are underestimating how difficult a game this will be to win. They are at home, we haven't got the greatest record there, all they need is a point for safety and they are as defensive as hell. It's the most important game for them too this season and i think they'll forget all about their troubles and get right behind the team.

Saying that, an early away goal might get their goat and hopefully they'll turn on the boss. I can't tell if it's my head or heart that thinks we'll win. It may well be my cock.

 

[YiddoInPoland]

This was a big game before, but now it is massive. The only thing i fear is they will try and park the bus, but we have break them down. We have been in this position before, we simply have to capitalise on this.

COYS

 

[spursontheloose]

Can't wait till tomorrow. Early meet up for some brekkie then on my way to Villa Park

Anyone know a good watering hole in the area? Heard of a place called the Witton Arms, is this pub any good?

 

[danielneeds]

Surely the players will be pumped to the max for this? All they have to do is run through walls for 90 mins, and we know we have the class to put Villa away. Win tomorrow and I think we break Arse and Toon.

 

[Sweatybum]

Try the King's Head spursontheloose, it's on top of the King's shoulders!

 

[Gbspurs]

Working till half 5 tomorrow going to have to listen to it on the radio or just read the updates. Probably best though as I'm fucking shitting it!

 

[Blake Griffin]

bolton banner? you've gone and jinxed us now

 

[Kingellesar]

Win win win win win please fucking win. All or nothing now, we NEED to get that 3rd spot after losing it in such a dramatic way, it is in OUR hands.

 

[jimtheyid]

This is going to be fucking tough. They only need a point to stay up IMO and McLeish will have them set up for a draw. We are at our best when counter attacking, so I predict a very frustrating 0-0 or a 1-1.

I hope I am wrong though, Rafa seems to love scoring against Villa. So lets just hope we fly out of the traps and get an early goal. f we score in the first 15 minutes we will settle and I can see an easy victory.

 

[spurs_girl_tasha]

It's okay I just need to bet on Villa to win and the result will be ours. I never bet on spurs to win because we always lose.

You can thank me for le Arse drawing today

 

[Rogmeister]

Nice and early with this thread. Well done mate.

As posted above you better change the banner to the right match before it goes pear shaped.

Although, Maybe it's a good sign and we are gonna win 4-1 again!!

 

[rockyhotspur]

I can see a very defensive performance from Villa tomorrow. One point will almost certainly see them guarantee Premier League survival. Lets hope we can break them down. I think we will as long as Bale stays wide and doesn't keep coming inside and make the midfield too congested.

 

[danielneeds]

I can see a very defensive performance from Villa tomorrow. One point will almost certainly see them guarantee Premier League survival. Lets hope we can break them down. I think we will as long as Bale stays wide and doesn't keep coming inside and make the midfield too congested.

Let's hope McLeish plays the same defensive team that they played at WHL with 4 fullbacks playing in the wide areas. They were bloody awful that day.

 

[Mr Pink]

He will play a very defensive side, he'll have at least seven defenders by trade on the pitch, you can guarantee it.

A relatively early goal for us will see it become more open and we'll pick them off, but they won't want their decent goal difference (as far as the bottom lot are concerned) being affected.

2-0 Spurs.

 

[werty]

I'll be surprised if McLeish doesn't play 3 RBs and 3 LBs.