Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspurs match report Sunday 2nd November

Christian Benteke saw red as his team lost 2-1 to a battling Tottenham Hotspurs side in a fiery encounter at Villa Park. 

After a much improved first half performance by the Belgian returning from injury, he raised his hand to the face of midfielder Ryan Mason in a coming together between the two right under the nose of fourth official. Referee Neil Swarbrick had no other choice to send off the striker, leaving Villa to defend a one goal lead for 27 minutes with 10 men. 

The game was a well fought, open contest between two sides struggling to find form. The tempers were stirred up by Jan Vertonghen in the second half. A two footed lunge by the Belgian on Ashley Westwood, which the home side thought merited a straight red card. Referee Swarbrick presented a yellow which incensed the Villa team, giving them a sense of injustice.

The away side took full advantage. With Benteke battling to hold off the ball from Mason, he wasn’t happy with the tackle that the young Englishman applied and the two squared up to each other on the half way line with Benteke raising his right hand into the face of Mason which was enough to see him earn the second red card of his Villa career.

After this it was a back’s to the walls time for the Villans. Spurs continually attacked and it seemed only a matter of time before they got back into the game. Despite their resilience Villa gifted their opponent’s the equaliser.

With 83 minutes gone, substitute Erik Lamela whipped in a corner from the right hand side and it was met completely unmarked at the far post who tapped home from six yards to finally break the Villa spirits.

One minute from time their hearts were broken too as Spurs completed the turn around. A cynical free kick was conceded by Carlos Sanchez 27 yards out from goal just to the right of the edge of the box. Up stepped Harry Kane. His free kick took a deflection off the wall which took it away from ‘keeper Brad Guzan to score his seventh goal in seven matches and send his team into euphoria.

A much improved Villa performance but still they came away with zero points from the game.

Manager Paul Lambert said his side were “unlucky” and “I didn’t think we deserved the result. We played excellent”  

Spurs manager said his side “deserved to win” and that his striker Harry Kane is definitely in contention for a starting spot after his performance today.