| Aston Villa
2 Tottenham 0
Saturday
11th November 2000
Goalscorers
– Taylor 22 & 57
Attendance – 33,608
Aston
Villa – James, Alpay, Southgate (Delaney 24), Barry, Stone, Taylor,
Boateng, Merson, Wright, Joachim (Ginola 78), Dublin.
Subs not used – Enckleman, DeBilde, Hendrie
Tottenham
Hotspur – Sullivan, Perry, Young, Vega, Carr, Anderton, Sherwood,
Clemence, Thatcher, Rebrov (Doherty 83), Ferdinand (Armstrong 45).
Subs not used – Walker, King, Thelwell
This
was another appalling away performance in front of the largest crowd of
the season at Villa Park. The new main stand is nearing completion,
which is more than can be said for this Spurs side, as Tottenham were
completely overrun by Villa. Spurs seemed to lack confidence and showed
a complete lack of organisation. They had no appetite for the game and
lacked passion and commitment. All this despite a huge contingent of
travelling fans who really got behind the team in the second half.
John
Gregory the Villa manager left Ginola on the bench but he was still
greeted by the Spurs fans with cries of “You're Spurs and you know you
are”. As the teams came on the Villa fans held up large £ signs
as part of an organised protest against their club’s lack of spending.
They should be so lucky!
The
first incident of the game came when Ferdinand was defending and clashed
heads with Southgate. Both players eventually left the field and went to
the dressing room. There was a lengthy period of ten a side during which
Villa took an inevitable lead after sustained pressure. Wright floated a
cross, which Taylor stole in to meet unchallenged and floated his header
over a stranded Sullivan. Ferdinand reappeared but Villa substituted
Southgate. Spurs should have followed their example as Ferdinand spent
the rest of the half wandering around totally bemused by what was going
on. He did not come out for the second half. The only real effort for
Tottenham in the first 45 minutes came when Anderton finished a good
move with a well struck shot straight at James.
The
second half continued the pattern of Villa domination. Just when it
started to look as if Spurs could lift themselves Villa scored again.
Dublin played a clever ball to Taylor who had advanced unmarked down the
left. He collected, controlled and drilled past Sullivan into the bottom
corner. For some unknown reason Taylor then decided to stand directly in
front of the Spurs fans to celebrate his goal. A clear case of
incitement although fortunately the Spurs fans did not overreact. Seen
it all before!
During
the second half Tottenham had another shot on target, which makes two in
ninety minutes. This time it was Doherty who hit his effort straight at
James.
On
78 minutes David Ginola entered the game to cheers all round the stadium.
His first run brought a foul from Sherwood (too slow) and a yellow card
for the Spurs man. Ginola looked his usual comfortable self on the ball
and on one occasion fed Merson who volleyed just over. There had been an
amusing incident earlier in the half involving Merson. The former Gooner
was booed all afternoon and when he took his first corner in front of
the Spurs fans one wag ran forward and showered Merson with a handful of
betting slips nicked from the bookies.
The
game finished with Villa convincing winners. The scoreline could have
been greater. Dublin hardly broke sweat but still ran Ramon Vega ragged.
The teams left the field to jeers from the Spurs fans and there was also
the usual torrent of abuse for George. One thing is certain. If you are
struggling at home a visit from Spurs will soon put matters right.
Listening to 606 on the journey back one fan said the answer is obvious.
Ramon Vega clearly does not have the ability to play at this level. That
is clear to all and to compensate we now seem to be playing an
additional centre back in Luke Young to compensate for Vega’s
inadequacies. This completely upsets the balance of the side. Thatcher
struggles at left back and is even worse as a wingback.
The midfield at Villa was overrun. Still the next away game is only at
Old Trafford.
MEHSTG
TOP MAN : – STEPHEN CARR
Eric
the Viking
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