Aston Villa 1; Tottenham 0: David O'Leary was in whimsical mood after seeing his team extend their unbeaten run to seven games and keep themselves in with a chance of snatching an unlikely Champions League place.
The way his mum still treats him like a teenager, the birthday presents hopefully awaiting his attention at home, the state of health of his horses . . . ah, it was grand stuff.
The soccer? That was grand too, albeit that the game ended with a packed Holte End in a state of some anxiety, in-form Villa having struggled to finish off a Spurs team of whom the best that can be said is they hung in there.
"One thing that's giving us a chance is we're not picking up too many injuries," O'Leary said.
Well though Villa are playing, one cannot help feeling they are only a pulled hamstring away from dropping off the pace.
The two replacements O'Leary had to call on yesterday fed off the confidence coursing through their team-mates. Both Peter Crouch, coming in for Darius Vassell up front, and the young Liam Ridgewell, deputising for Ronny Johnsen in central defence, very much looked the part.
The goal that was to win the match came early. Mauricio Taricco was penalised for handball and, from around 40 yards out, Thomas Hitzlsperger swung in a deep free-kick. Spurs failed to pick up Gareth Barry, who headed back across goal, and from almost on the goalline Juan Pablo Angel fired home.
The news of Leeds' defeat prompted mixed reactions from O'Leary and Pleat. "Tension creeps in when you get yourself into a downwards spiral," said Pleat. "We deserve to be in the Premiership because we've had our good runs as well but we're in a terrible one now and we might have been caught out."
With his former club being relegated, O'Leary admitted he has been getting text messages from former players at Elland Road. Asking him to sign them? "You said that, not me," said the Irishman. "They're players I admire certainly but we won't be bidding for any of them. I haven't got that kind of money."
It might be different, though, if Liverpool and Newcastle slip up in their remaining matches and Villa maintain their charge.
Guardian Service
