Aston Villa headed into today's Boxing Day clash with Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park looking to bounce back from a heavy 8-0 defeat to Chelsea last time out.
What followed hardly boosted their confidence, with Spurs running out 4-0 winners thanks largely to a first Premier League hat-trick from Welsh winger Gareth Bale.
You can find out how the match unfolded in Birmingham with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening all. What a Boxing Day we've had in the Premier League already! Let's hope this clash can continue that trend!
Before we get into all the facts and figures surrounding this clash, the team news from Villa Park is in...
VILLA XI: Guzan; Lowton, Baker, Clark, Bennett; Holman, Westwood, Herd, El Ahmadi, Delph; Benteke
Perhaps the main surprise in that Villa lineup is the fact that Fabian Delph has been included in a five-man midfield. Apart from that, it is pretty much what was expected from Paul Lambert. It will be interesting to see how his players react following their thrashing at Chelsea last time out.
SPURS XI: Lloris; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Naughton; Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Bale; Adebayor, Defoe
Whatever the outcome tonight, no-one will be able to accuse Andre Villas-Boas of being negative. Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe will form the striking partnership, while Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale provide the width. Attacking midfielder Moussa Dembele is also included.
Looking at the Tottenham team a little more closely, you get the impression that Sandro is going to be a busy bee today! With those attacking players in the team, as well as full-backs who like to get forward, the Brazilian midfielder is likely to have to cover a lot of ground! Hope he didn't have too much turkey!
Spurs are coming up against a young Villa side who were well and truly beaten against Chelsea on Sunday. Inevitably, during his pre-match interview with Sky Sports News, Lambert was asked about that 8-0 defeat. Here's some of what he had to say:
"We had a meeting and a chat about. It's gone now and you can't dwell on it. We can't change it now. We've got to move on and thankfully we've got a game today."
It would be fair to say that recent history isn't on Lambert's side though. Villa have not beaten Spurs since 2008. What's more, they may have only lost two of eight home matches this season - but they've only won on two occasions as well.
From a Spurs point of view, there's been no middle ground so far. From eight matches away from White Hart Lane, they've won four and lost four. I don't think Villa will have too many complaints if they are involved in Spurs' first draw away from home of the season.
Right, the players are on their way out. It's a decent atmosphere inside Villa Park. To be honest, very few grounds seems to generate more noise, particularly for fixtures under floodlights.
Visiting Spurs, kicking from right to left, get this match off and running...
Positive start from Spurs. They haven't created anything but the ball is being stroked about with real assurance. Already Dembele is looking to be the biggest danger to Villa. He seems to glide across the pitch.
First opportunity for Spurs, but it's a difficult one for Bale, who volleys wide with the ball going away from goal. The Welsh international feels that he was fouled as he went to shoot, but Mark Clattenburg was not interested.
Another sight of goal for Bale, but this time his effort is disappointing. It was from a free kick 25 yards from goal, but his shot looked far too casual and struck the top of the wall. The resultant corner comes to nothing.
CHANCE! A speculative effort from Spurs full-back Kyle Walker on the volley is deflected just wide of the post from 25 yards out. It's all Tottenham at the moment.
SAVE! It's the Bale show at the moment. This is the closest of his three efforts, which is tipped over the bar by Brad Guzan. It was a powerful effort from Bale, who struck the ball from the edge of the area.
I hope Christian Benteke is keeping himself warm. I don't think the Villa striker has touched the ball yet! The whole match has been played inside the Villa half. In fact, only 9% of possession has featured in Spurs's territory.
Here's an interesting stat from Daily Telegraph reporter Paul Kelso: "Vertonghen and Gallas at centre-half for Tottenham. 16th consecutive game AVB has fielded different central combination."
In fairness it wouldn't have mattered who he'd selected to play there so far. He could have played himself because Villa are yet to mount a serious attack!
To be fair to Villa though, they've not exactly had too much to deal with themselves. It's been neat and pretty from Spurs until a point, but the final ball has been lacking. It's only that shot from Bale that forced Guzan into action which has caused the home team problems.
Almost an embarrassing moment for Villa defender Chris Herd. Aaron Lennon drills in a cross from the right, which Herd attempts to clear. He gets his connection all wrong though and the ball just goes over his own crossbar. That's a lucky escape for the Aussie. The resultant corner his headed goalwards by William Gallas, but Guzan holds with ease.
SAVE! Now Spurs are beginning to move through the gears. Defoe shows some electric pace to get beyond the Villa defence, but Guzan spreads himself well to block his lofted effort from close range.
The Villa natives are getting a little restless. Partly because their side are struggling to string three passes together, but also because Aaron Lennon has gone down and is waiting to receive treatment. It looks as though the Spurs winger is struggling with a knee problem.
My word! Villa have had an attack! Joe Bennett got to the left byline and sent across a teasing delivery, which flashed along the Tottenham goalmouth. Any sort of touch there and Villa would have been 1-0 up.
SAVE! From Tottenham's 10th corner - yes 10th - Adebayor sends a header straight at Guzan. It's a case of hot potato for the American goalkeeper, who pushes the ball up into the air before catching at the second attempt.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for Spurs and Adebayor. This time Bale picks him out inside the area from the left. The Togo frontman takes one touch, before his rising effort is blocked by Nathan Baker from close range - it looked painful as well!
CHANCE! Blimey, another Villa attack! Lowton gained possession on the right and sent over a low cross, which Benteke just misses. Brett Holman did make a connection at the back post, but he was always stretching and the ball bounces out of play.
CHANCE! Spurs have now had 13 corners and on this occasion they almost take the lead. Bale sends the ball into the near post for an onrushing Jan Vertonghen. The defender's header is a little too high though and the ball goes over the bar.
Have to say that Villa have defended really, really well so far. Pretty much everything Spurs have thrown their way has been rebuffed. They've had to as well, because as an attacking force they've been almost non-existent.
SAVE! The latest instalment of the Bale vs. Guzan show ends with the Villa keeper palming clear the Spurs winger's shot from the edge of the area. That moved in the air from Bale so it was a smart stop.
CHANCE! This is getting a bit silly now! Tottenham's 15th corner ends with Adebayor nodding the ball wide of the target from inside the six yard box. He should have done a lot better there.
SUBSTITUTION: A late change in this half for Villa, who have brought on Stephen Ireland to replace the injured Nathan Baker. That will mean a reshuffle for the home team, who are likely to go to four at the back.
There will be a minimum of three minutes of stoppage time...
HALF-TIME: Villa 0-0 Spurs
Well, the good news for Villa is that they are level at 0-0 - somehow! They've posed very little threat to Spurs. However, it can't get much worse and surely they will be more adventurous after the restart. If not, the fans will surely start to get on their back.
I can't imagine that AVB will be overly chuffed. Okay his side have played some very good football, but they should comfortably be in the lead here and yet they are not. Football is funny old game as well - how many times have we seen teams come out for the second half and not replicate their first-half form?
Tottenham have had 15 corners during the opening 45 minutes. 15! The record this season stands at 16, surely they'll go past that won't they?
They've also had 11 shots to Villa's one. Spurs have also had 70% of the possession. The more I'm typing, the more I keep thinking: How an earth are they not in front here?!
SUBSTITUTION: An attacking switch for Villa at the break as Marc Albrighton comes on to replace midfielder Westwood. Albrighton's pace may cause Spurs some problems this half.
Hosting Villa get the second half underway...
Much, much better from Villa. Lowton has just shot well wide of the target, but what is really important is the fact that they've started brightly - and with some attacking intent!
The fans are responding to the effort from their team as well. In fairness to the Villa faithful, they had very little to cheer during the first half. However, already they look a lot more lively. Even Benteke is involved!
Spurs are now beginning to see a bit more of the ball but it's not so easy at the moment. Villa are hunting down possession and are getting some tackles in. Whatever Lambert said during the break, it's worked!
OFFSIDE! Ireland and Benteke link well for the latter to shoot at goal from inside the area. The Belgian was flagged offside but Hugo Lloris was not to know and he pulled off a great save. Villa are now asking a lot more questions of the Spurs defence.
GOAL! Villa 0-1 Spurs (Defoe)
So, having come out a much better side for the second half, Villa are behind! It's a very composed finish by Jermain Defoe from a narrow angle, but he owes a lot to full-back Naughton, who slotted the ball through to him from 25 yards out. From their display in the first half, you'd have to say Spurs deserve that.
GOAL! Villa 0-2 Spurs (Bale)
Benteke wastes a chance to level proceedings up one end and just 10 seconds later the ball is in the Villa net. It was a classic counter-attack from Villa, which ends with Bale rounding Guzan and rolling the ball into an empty net. That should be game over.
SUBSTITUTION: A limping Dembele is replaced by Scott Parker, who continues his recovery from an Achilles injury.
BOOKING! The first booking of the night goes to Villa's Delph and he can have few complaints. He was late on Bale with a sliding challenge that sent the Spurs winger tumbling.
The way this match is going, Spurs look a good bet to get a third goal on the counter. Villa, understandably, are pushing forward but at the same time they are leaving a lot of gaps at the back. With the likes of Bale and Lennon on the pitch, that could spell danger.
GOAL! Villa 0-3 Spurs (Bale)
Well, Bale's timing was impeccable! The Welshman is deadly at times. Here he rode one challenge before drilling the ball clinically into the bottom right hand corner of the net from the edge of the area. Villa fans head for the exits.
CHANCE! Big opportunity for Defoe, who sends Walker's low cross way over the bar from 12 yards out. He normally takes those chances with ease. Spurs are threatening to run away with this match.
SUBSTITUTION: A disappointed looking Adebayor is replaced by Gylfi Sigurdsson. It didn't quite happen for Adebayor today - his partnership with Defoe still needs some working on.
It looks like a training match at the moment. Spurs are content to keep the ball, while Villa chase them around. If this was a boxing match, it would have been stopped by now!
GOAL! Villa 0-4 Spurs (Bale, hat-trick)
And there is the knockout blow for Villa. Sigurdsson shapes to shoot but instead cuts the ball inside for Bale, who sends the ball into the roof of the net from close range. That wraps up a stunning display from the Welsh wizard.
SUBSTITUTION: And with that, Bale takes his bow. Villas-Boas decides to rest him for the remaining minutes and bring on young winger Andros Townsend.
SAVE! It would barely have mattered had it gone in, but at least Albrighton is showing some fight with a strike from 20 yards out. Lloris moves across his line and gets behind the ball to hold.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time for Villa to endure...
FULL TIME: Villa 0-4 Spurs
Well, Villa's goal difference has taken a pounding in the last two matches! They need to regroup, and quick! In contrast, Spurs are up to fourth and played some terrific football this evening.
That's all we have time for from Villa Park but be sure to hang around for our analysis, which will be coming your way shortly. Thanks for joining us on Sports Mole throughout the day.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
