Premier League: Aston Villa 1 Tottenham 2

Tottenham Hotspur hung on for victory at Villa Park, despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men.

Rafael van der Vaart was Tottenham’s hero with both goals, while Jermain Defoe’s red card meant they played for most of the game a man short.

Villa could have gone ahead in the first minute when a James Collins nod down found Marc Albrighton, but his deflected shot was clawed away by Heurelho Gomez.

Minutes later Defoe had Tottenham’s first chance after a Luka Modric flick found him in the box. Brad Friedel did well to save.

Younes Kaboul had the ball in the Villa net in the 15th minute, turning in Alan Hutton’s pull back. But referee Martin Atkinson deemed the ball had gone out of play before Hutton got to it.

Seconds later Gabby Agbonlahor was put through for Villa. Gomez saved his shot and did well to recover and claw away Agbonlahor’s follow up header.

But Tottenham took the lead in the 23rd minute. Hutton’s low cross out-foxed three Villa defenders, and van der Vaart turned the ball in from six yards.

Four minutes later Tottenham were reduced to 10 men when Defoe was sent off for elbowing Collins in what appeared a harsh decision.

Villa substitute Nathan Delfouneso had a chance to equalise early in the second half, after being put through by Stewart Downing, but his weak shot was saved by Gomez.

Carlos Cuellar then wasted two headers as the Villa fans became more frustrated.

Tottenham hit Villa with a classic sucker punch and a well crafted second goal with 23 minutes left.

Gareth Bale skipped two challenges to play a pass to Aaron Lennon. He pushed the ball back to van der Vaart who virtually passed the ball into the net from just inside the box.

Albrighton pulled a goal back for Villa with eight minutes to go. His cross was intended for Collins but the defender did not get a touch as the ball bounced past Gomez.

Bale almost restored Tottenham’s two-goal lead in the last minute with a free kick that curled just wide, and despite an injury time Villa onslaught, Tottenham held on for victory.