Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Aston VillaAston Villa1TottenhamTottenham Hotspur2
- Tottenham strike twice in final six minutes
- Kane scores ninth goal of the season
- Villa end goal drought stretching back to 13 September
- Benteke sent off for second-half push
Harry Kane scored his seventh goal in seven games for Tottenham to send Aston Villa to a sixth straight defeat.
Andreas Weimann had given Villa a deserved half-time lead with their first goal since 13 September.
But after Villa's Christian Benteke was sent off for pushing Tottenham's Ryan Mason in the face, Nacer Chadli swept in Erik Lamela's corner to equalise.
And substitute Kane, prolific in cups this season, came on to score with a last-minute deflected free-kick.
The England Under-21 international stepped up his claims for a first Premier League start of the season after following up a hat-trick in the 5-1 Europa League win over Asteras Tripolis with another goal in Wednesday's 2-0 League Cup win over Brighton.
He began on the bench at Villa Park, but looked a significant threat after replacing Emmanuel Adebayor with little more than half an hour to go.
Defeat increases the problems for Villa manager Paul Lambert, who had acknowledged before the match that he was not "bomb-proof" despite only signing a contract extension in September.
Roberto Soldado had two early chances to give Spurs the lead, fizzing a 20-yard shot just wide in the first minute and then heading past the post after a scramble in the penalty area.
| Six of the worst |
|---|
| Aston Villa's defeat means they have lost six league games in a row for the first time since 1967. |
But after Benteke hit the angle of post and bar from Aly Cissokho's low ball in, Villa found a way to end a goal drought that had lasted nine hours and seven minutes of playing time.
Charles N'Zogbia, recalled to the starting line-up in place of the dropped Gabriel Agbonlahor, got clear down the right and crossed low for Weimann to sweep in from 15 yards.
The home fans showed they had not lost their sense of humour, greeting the goal with a chant of "we're Aston Villa, we score when we want".
But Adebayor should have equalised before half-time, finishing weakly after being sent clear by Christian Eriksen and allowing keeper Brad Guzan to push the ball aside.
The match turned when Benteke was sent off 20 minutes into the second half for raising his hands after a scuffle involving Mason.
Television replays suggested the Tottenham midfielder pushed his head into Benteke's face first - but the Belgium striker's reaction left referee Neil Swarbrick with no option but to show him a red card.
A man short, Villa began to tire as Kane's energy caused them problems.
The equaliser came with six minutes left as Chadli rose at the far post to tap in Lamela's corner for his fourth league goal of the season.
And Kane struck right at the end with a free-kick that flicked in off defender Nathan Baker to leave Guzan stranded and Lambert in despair.
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Guzan
- 34Lowton
- 4Vlaar
- 2Baker
- 23CissokhoBooked at 38minsSubstituted forBentat 90+3'minutes
- 15Westwood
- 24C SánchezBooked at 89mins
- 8Cleverley
- 28N'ZogbiaSubstituted forAgbonlahorat 75'minutes
- 20BentekeBooked at 65mins
- 10WeimannBooked at 69minsSubstituted forRichardsonat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Clark
- 11Agbonlahor
- 12Cole
- 18Richardson
- 19Bent
- 31Given
- 40Grealish
Tottenham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Lloris
- 16Naughton
- 4Kaboul
- 5VertonghenBooked at 61mins
- 3Rose
- 23EriksenBooked at 25minsSubstituted forLamelaat 45'minutes
- 29CapoueSubstituted forTownsendat 72'minutes
- 38Mason
- 22ChadliBooked at 80mins
- 10AdebayorSubstituted forKaneat 58'minutes
- 9Soldado
Substitutes
- 11Lamela
- 13Vorm
- 17Townsend
- 18Kane
- 19Dembélé
- 21Fazio
- 25Stambouli
- Referee:
- Neil Swarbrick
- Attendance:
- 32,049
Match Stats
Home TeamAston VillaAway TeamTottenham
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away9
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2.
Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Baker (Aston Villa).
Post update
Foul by Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur).
Post update
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Westwood (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Darren Bent replaces Aly Cissokho.
Post update
Offside, Aston Villa. Nathan Baker tries a through ball, but Kieran Richardson is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Tottenham Hotspur 2. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Booking
Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Carlos Sánchez (Aston Villa).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nacer Chadli.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Nathan Baker.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Kieran Richardson replaces Andreas Weimann.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aly Cissokho (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Gabriel Agbonlahor following a fast break.
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1. Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Erik Lamela with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Tottenham Hotspur. Conceded by Aly Cissokho.
