- May 20, 2005
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Tottenham Hotspur Vs Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 2 October Kick-off: 1500 BST
Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Saturday, 2 October Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day
For more on live coverage please visit Geez's Live Media Thread
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2[ar]
Clash of sides chasing Champions League spot
Spurs host Aston Villa on Saturday in a clash of sides chasing a coveted UEFA Champions League spot via the top-flight.
Harry Redknapp's side secured fourth place last term and are now enjoying the elite European competition, seeing off FC Twente 4-1 at White Hart Lane in midweek.
That was a welcome return to winning ways after the 4-1 reverse to arch-rivals Arsenal in the Carling Cup and a 1-0 league defeat to West Ham.
The Spurs boss will be aiming to build on the victory as his eighth-placed side seek to not lose further ground at the top of the table.
Opponents Villa occupy fifth spot - two points ahead of Spurs - after their 2-1 derby success at Wolves last time out.
It marked a perfect return to the Premier League for new boss Gerard Houllier after six years away following his Liverpool exit.
Houllier also saw his side beat Blackburn in the Carling Cup in his first game in charge and the French tactician will be looking to continue the
momentum as he seeks to improve on predecessor Martin O'Neill's sixth-placed top-flight finish for the last three seasons.
Team news
Spurs will once again check on the fitness of captain Ledley King before deciding on their line-up.
King overcame problems with his groin and notoriously fragile knees to skipper the side in Wednesday night's thrashing of Twente.
Should he start this weekend, he will once again be partnered by Sebastien Bassong, with William Gallas (groin) and Younes Kaboul (hamstring) both still missing.
Rafael van der Vaart was sent off against the Dutch champions but is not suspended domestically so should continue in midfield.
Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes came back into the side for the Champions League victory after more than a month out with a groin injury and should retain his place.
But long-term absentees Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson (both ligament damage), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) remain on the sidelines.
For Villa, Richard Dunne is back in contention after recovering from a knee injury.
The Republic of Ireland international missed the Carling Cup clash with Blackburn and the league derby at Wolves but has returned to training this week after undergoing a scan.
But Dunne has to see whether new boss Houllier will hand him an instant recall or keep faith with the James Collins-Carlos Cuellar partnership.
With Dunne's return to fitness, Ciaran Clark is unlikely to be involved, despite recovering from a dead leg.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is the main fitness worry for the trip with a groin injury, while Emile Heskey will be looking to score for the third successive match after being revitalised since the arrival of Houllier.
The French tactician is also hopeful fellow striker John Carew, who has been suffering a back problem, will be in contention for the trip.
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Ledley King's ongoing knee problem is likely to prevent the Tottenham captain from playing a second match in three days after featuring against FC Twente.
Vedran Corluka and Sebastien Bassong will therefore be paired in central defence, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto could feature at left-back.
Aston Villa pair John Carew and Richard Dunne have recovered from back and knee injuries respectively.
Gabriel Agbonlahor misses out and must undergo a minor groin operation.
Tottenham
Doubtful: King (knee)
Injured: Dawson (knee & ankle), Defoe (ankle), Gallas & Woodgate (both groin), Kaboul (hamstring), O'Hara (back)
Aston Villa
Injured: Agbonlahor (groin), Delph (knee), Weimann (ankle)
2[ar]
Having given plenty against Twente, can Tottenham summon the energy to vanquish Villa and reassert their top-four credentials?
Spurs fans were singing in the rain during the midweek Champions League victory, but the club need to guard against a domestic damp squib.
Although the perception that Tottenham struggle in post-European matches is a little unfair, there is no denying they were laboured at home in defeat by Wigan and victory over Wolves.
Villa could be welcome opponents. They have only won this fixture once in a decade, and their new manager also has an unenviable record at White Hart Lane: Gerard Houllier's first ever Premier League away defeat came at Tottenham, in December 1998, and he has lost five of his six previous league visits.
Houllier has started his Villa reign with successive victories. The Frenchman has praised the character of the squad he inherited, and they will need to show plenty of that if they are to upset Spurs and Chelsea in their next two games.
Head-to-head
• Villa's only win in their last 10 visits to White Hart Lane was a 2-1 victory in September 2008 (W1, D5, L4).
• Harry Redknapp is unbeaten in eight league matches against Aston Villa since his Portsmouth side lost 1-0 at Villa Park in March 2006.
Tottenham
• Spurs are attempting to avoid back-to-back league defeats for the first time in 11 months since losing at home to Stoke and away to Arsenal.
• They have earned eight points from six matches - four fewer than at the same stage last season.
• Tottenham have only been ahead at half time in one of their six league fixtures this season.
• They have conceded once in each of their last five league matches. This is their longest run without a clean sheet since conceding in each of their opening six games last season.
Aston Villa
• Villa are vying for successive wins for the first time since winning three in a row in April.
• They have conceded 12 goals in their last four away matches.
• Emile Heskey has scored in back-to-back club appearances for the first time since April 2008. He has now scored four goals in his last five matches under Gerard Houllier.
• Ashley Young will be making his 150th Premier League appearance.
LEADING GOALSCORERS FROM LAST SEASON
Tottenham
Crouch: 4 goals (0 league)
Aston Villa
Heskey & A Young: 3 goals (1 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Jake Collin & Scott Ledger
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
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