A first-half header from Christian Benteke has given Aston Villa a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur, despite the visitors finishing a man short at White Hart Lane this afternoon.
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Tottenham had the majority of the possession in the opening 10 minutes as they faced old manager Tim Sherwood's new side, but Ron Vlaar was ready to stop Harry Kane making an early run into the penalty area.
Villa looked to get the ball forward to Benteke, but the in-form Belgian was being closely marked by Vlad Chiriches.
Spurs continued to look the more likely in the opening half hour, with Andros Townsend firing in a dangerous-looking cross, while Federico Fazio headed wide and Danny Rose had a shot saved by Brad Guzan.
Despite Tottenham's dominant spell, it was Villa who opened the scoring when a long ball forward fell to Benteke, who outjumped Chiriches to head into the back of the net.
Kane and Christian Eriksen both got forward just before half time in a bid to get the home side back on level terms, but the latter fired wide after hurrying his shot.
After a slow start to the second half, Tottenham started to come forward again, with Townsend trying to play the ball through for Kane, but the delivery had a little too much on it for the striker.
Eriksen was on the charge again as he tried to cut the ball back for Rose, who missed it, while Kane could not stretch in time to poke it in.
Kane continued to look sharp as the hour mark approached, getting free to meet another ball in from Townsend, but his finish bobbled just wide.
Chances started to dry up for the home side though, until Chiriches got forward to try to inspire an equaliser, but he lost out to Vlaar.
Home fans had something to cheer about in the final 10 minutes when American international DeAndre Yedlin replaced Chiriches to make his Tottenham debut, but it was Villa who started to threaten again.
Vlaar rose highest to try to head in, but he could not get his finish on target, while Andreas Weimann saw his chance moments later held by Michel Vorm.
Villa's hopes of securing the win were dealt a blow in stoppage time though as Carlos Sanchez picked up his second booking of the afternoon, leaving the visitors a man short for the final couple of minutes.
However, Villa saw it out, with Guzan coming off his line to gather a long ball forward from a free kick to stop Tottenham getting a shot away in the final minutes.
The result leaves Tottenham seventh in the table, seven points outside the Champions League places, while Villa sit 15th.
Sian Cowper
