An Andros Townsend inspired Tottenham Hotspur overcame an Aston
Villa team that have stalled after their roller coaster start to the season.
The England man netted the first goal and was a constant thorn in Villa's side
as his pace and skill was too much for his opponents. Striker Roberto Soldado
grabbed the second goal to send Spurs to fifth in the Premiership table.
After a barren half an hour with few chances created, Townsend sparked the game
into life when he picked up the ball on the right hand side and cut inside onto
his favoured left foot and whipped in a cross that befuddled the Villa defence
and nestled in the goal leaving keeper Brad Guzan flat footed in his six yard
area.
Villa did finish the first half stronger than their opponents with Fabian Delph working hard in midfield however, the home team lacked a killer edge. In the second half Villa continued to try and break down the resolute Spurs defence without success but then the introduction of striker Christian Benteke on the hour looked to have changed things. The best chance came from a right wing cross by Leandro Bacuna which the Belgian striker headed inches over the bar.
A minute later and with Villa on top, the ball was swept down to the other end of the pitch and after some good work on the left, the ball was poked through by Paulinho to Soldado who fired home coolly from 12 yards out. The second goal broke the Villa players' hearts and Spurs looked the more likely to snatch a third with Townsend once again going close with a curling left foot shot which cleared the bar. He then turned provider when he fired in a right wing cross from a narrow angle which skimmed off the head of team mate Paulinho from three yards out and flew narrowly wide.
After the match Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas praised the work of the England midfielder but said the rest of his team played very well also.
Villa slip down the table to 13th but despite this manager Paul Lambert suggested they were "unlucky" not to get anything from the match. When asked whether his star striker Benteke should have been on from the start he was quick to defend his decision to leave him on the bench saying the player had only trained four times in the last month but expects him back to full match fitness very soon.
Villa did finish the first half stronger than their opponents with Fabian Delph working hard in midfield however, the home team lacked a killer edge. In the second half Villa continued to try and break down the resolute Spurs defence without success but then the introduction of striker Christian Benteke on the hour looked to have changed things. The best chance came from a right wing cross by Leandro Bacuna which the Belgian striker headed inches over the bar.
A minute later and with Villa on top, the ball was swept down to the other end of the pitch and after some good work on the left, the ball was poked through by Paulinho to Soldado who fired home coolly from 12 yards out. The second goal broke the Villa players' hearts and Spurs looked the more likely to snatch a third with Townsend once again going close with a curling left foot shot which cleared the bar. He then turned provider when he fired in a right wing cross from a narrow angle which skimmed off the head of team mate Paulinho from three yards out and flew narrowly wide.
After the match Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas praised the work of the England midfielder but said the rest of his team played very well also.
Villa slip down the table to 13th but despite this manager Paul Lambert suggested they were "unlucky" not to get anything from the match. When asked whether his star striker Benteke should have been on from the start he was quick to defend his decision to leave him on the bench saying the player had only trained four times in the last month but expects him back to full match fitness very soon.
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