Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2: THE MOOD has changed at Villa Park. A chastening afternoon for Martin O'Neill and his players ended with the Aston Villa manager defiantly insisting that his side could still finish ahead of Arsenal and raging at the supporters who had cheered when Gabriel Agbonlahor was withdrawn.
It was not the sort of post-match script the Villa manager had in mind, but these are troubling times for O’Neill after seven matches without a win.
That sequence has allowed Arsenal to regain fourth spot, much to the chagrin of the fans who were dreaming of Champions League football next season.
Those same supporters were looking for a scapegoat and Agbonlahor, who endured another miserable afternoon against a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur side, was singled out. The striker has scored only once in his past 15 matches and when his number was held up in the 79th minute, the response from fans was clear. O’Neill was disgusted.
“The reaction was more than disappointing,” said the Villa manager. “Gabriel Agbonlahor has been absolutely fantastic for this football club ever since I have known him. He’s going through a period when confidence is low. But, I’ve got to tell you, that is no way to treat a player. I can put up with many things, but that, certainly, was uncalled for. It doesn’t help anybody. People have short memories.”
O’Neill intends to speak to Agbonlahor today, when he will also talk to the rest of the players as he attempts to “galvanise” a team that appears to be running on empty.
Villa dominated the first half after falling behind to Jermaine Jenas’s header, but their failure to convert possession into goals was punished four minutes after the restart when Darren Bent toe-poked Robbie Keane’s shot over the line. Spurs assumed control thereafter despite Villa sub John Carew heading a late consolation.
Defeat leaves Villa out of the top four for the first time this year and, with trips to Anfield and Old Trafford to follow, it is difficult to see that situation changing in the near future. O’Neill, however, refuses to concede that their pursuit of Arsenal will prove to be forlorn and pointed to Villa’s response following back-to-back defeats earlier in the year as a reason to be positive.
“I still think we can do it,” said the Villa manager. Way back in November we lost two games in six days [against Newcastle and Middlesbrough] and had to face Arsenal and Manchester United in the next two games and started a 13-match unbeaten run.
“I would imagine we will have to get something from the next two games, which will be pretty difficult. But I genuinely believe it’s possible. I think we can still fight back. There are nine games to go and plenty of points to play for.”
For Redknapp, who O’Neill accompanied to the dug-out at the start of the game to discourage any hostile response from the Villa fans that had abused him on his previous two visits, this was a sweet victory.
The win lifts Tottenham up to 11th and within four points of seventh place, which could be enough to secure European football next season. Not that Redknapp will have pleased all of his supporters with this result.
“Some Tottenham fans said to me, ‘I hope we don’t win at Villa’,” said Redknapp, responding to the suggestion that Spurs have done Arsenal a favour. “I have never heard such crap in all my life.”
Guardian Service
