Tottenham 0-0 Aston Villa: The Sunday Mirror match report

Tottenham lost ground in the race for a top four finish when they drew a blank against a determined Aston Villa.

Spurs created and then wasted a whole series of chance during spells of ­intense pressure but found Villa’s ­defence in stubborn mood with a Brad Friedel in goal in inspired form.

In front of him the likes of Richard Dunne, James Collins and Carlos Cuellar produced block after block to deny Tottenham who forced any number of corners but were unable to break through.

The victory by Liverpool over Everton earlier in the day had given an extra emphasis to the need for a Tottenham win if they were to regain the intitiative in the race for a Champions League place.

And manager Harry Redknapp had entrusted David Bentley with another chance to show he has a future at White Hart Lane. But the early danger came from the other flank as Luka Modric accelerated inside from his berth on the left wing to swoop on a knock-down from Peter Crouch. But the Croatian scuffed his shot and Friedel gathered easily.

Villa have had to endure a fortnight of being tagged a “long ball” side after their last encounter with as North ­London team.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would have struggled to justify that assertion as Stewart Downing and Gabriel Agbonlahor combined ­sweetly down the left.

But the final pass between the England duo was just a touch too heavy and Heurelho Gomes was not troubled.

The born-again Bentley and Modric opened Villa up again and forced a 14th-minute corner that gave Ledley King a clear header at the Villa goal, but the ball went straight to a relieved Friedel.

Crouch’s aerial dominance over Dunne and Collins was proving troublesome to the Villa defence and Modric was ever-alert to the knock-downs.

They were in tandem once again in the 18th minute as Moidric fed Crouch and ­Friedel was forced to tip the ball away for another ­Tottenham corner.

Villa responded with an assault of their own and Dunne was tantalisingly close to a deep cross from Downing.

After 20 minutes, Villa had to make an enforced change when Emile Heskey limped off. At least O’Neill had a like-for-like replacement in John Carew so no major tactical adjustment was needed.

What was needed was a way to stop Crouch, who was a ­constant menace.

Villa had their own dangerman, however, in Agbonlahor and it needed a perfectly-timed tackle from King to halt his progress.

In the 25th minute, though, it was the Villa goal that was threatened as Tom Huddlestone let fly from 30 yards. As Modric closed in on the rebound after Friedel parried the ball, Cuellar made a vital block.

Not to be outdone, Gomes produced a double save to keep out James Milner’s 20-yard effort and then ­smothered the effort from Agbonlahor, who had stabbed the loose ball goalwards.

The growing confidence of Gareth Bale was reflected in his adventurous sorties down the left and he produced a long-range shot that was cleared away by Downing with Friedel beaten. Four minutes from the break, Friedel made a magnificent save from King and Defoe put the loose ball over from six yards.

Villa were handed a gilt-edged opening three minutes into the second half with a free-kick on the edge of the area. But Downing’s effort was poor – and Vedran Corluka was just as wasteful when he was put through by Jermain Defoe.

Bale’s impact was growing as he supplemented Tottenham’s attack at every opportunity but the next chance was Villa’s – and once again a free-kick was wasted, this time by Ashley Young.

Friedel was again alert to tip away a shot from Huddlestone on the hour and in the other area, Gomes was happy to see Agbonlahior fail to connect with a knock down from Carew.

Crouch then headed on to the roof of the net from Corluka’s cross and Michael Dawson was equally guilty with a tame header before Crouch was wide from a Bentley cross.