Action and Reaction as Aston Villa Lose Sight of UEFA Champions League Hopes

Action

Aston Villa's chances of clinching a UEFA Champions League spot for next season took a killer blow as Tottenham Hotspur came out 2-1 victors at Villa Park on Sunday.

It seems to be worrying times now for Martin O'Neill's men, as the mighty Villans have gone four consecutive games without success in the Premier League, and such costly form means they have been leapfrogged by Arsenal into that all important fourth place.

After having a nice little sunny break in the luxurious city of Dubai, any sign of Villa feeling regenerated and improved from earlier in the season clearly wasn't present at Villa Park, as the Villans lacked their usual spark and flair.

Although it still came as shock for most inside the ground when Jermaine Jenas opened the scoring for Tottenham after just five minutes.

A cross in from the right by the impressive winger Aaron Lennon was palmed out by a fully stretched Brad Friedel, who could do nothing but simply palm it back out into the fray, with Jenas using Table Tennis-like reactions and heading home to put the visitors in front.

The home side tried to force an equaliser in the remainder of the first half, but couldn't despite the best efforts of Ashley Young, whose tremendous pace and skill were too hot to handle for a helpless Didier Zokora, the stand-in right-back who was taken off after just 35 minutes.

Just like the first half, Aston Villa didn't start the second half all that brightly, and again five minutes into play the visitors found themselves 2-0 up.

Robbie Keane's goalwards cross-shot was prodded home by Darren Bent on 50 minutes, with the ex-Charlton striker claiming his 15th goal of the season.

In desperate pursuit of an equaliser, or indeed just that consolation goal, Villa managed to half Tottenham's advantage in the 85th minute, as big Norweigan striker John Carew headed home a James Milner cross for his 11th goal of the season.

So a 2-1 defeat in the end for Aston Villa, a result which now means they drop down to fifth for the first time this season, albeit still level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal.

Reaction

Despite losing for the third time in four games on Sunday, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill remains confident his side will claim fourth place come the end of the season.

Speaking to SkySports, the Villa boss said: "We are still there and we are still battling. The players have done terrifically well, and now they have to try and get over these disappointments.

"They have got to go on and fight to the end and I think we are capable of doing that."

Talking about his side's performance against Tottenham Hotspur, O'Neill went on to say: "I thought we were excellent in the first half, really splendid.

"I thought the goal just after half-time was certainly a major setback because we were in control of the match, even though we were a goal behind, and it really rocked us back.

"We came back strongly towards the end but really the damage was done with that particular goal.

"We've been battling all season and there is no reason to give it up. I remember we came roaring back from two goals down against Arsenal earlier this season.

"I thought we were going to do the same again late today. But it wasn't to be."