Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa

Walker, Carr, Scales, Calderwood, Edinburgh (Mabbutt, 59), Sinton, Howells, Clemence, Fox, Ferdinand (Fenn, 83), Iversen.

Attendance
26,317

Referee
M A Riley

Bosnich, Charles, Staunton, Southgate, Ehiogu (Curcic, 86), Townsend, Taylor, Draper, Yorke, Collymore, Scimeca.

Subs not used: Baardsen, Nielsen, Clapham.

Subs not used: Oakes, Milosevic, Wright, Nelson.

Booked:

Booked:

Goal Scorers: Ferdinand 6,66, Fox 77

Goal Scorers: Yorke 27, Collymore 58.

Unlikely hero Ruel Fox stole the thunder of two-goal Les Ferdinand and condemned luckless Aston Villa to their worst-ever start to a season with a 76th minute winner at White Hart Lane.
Fox, a £4million buy from Newcastle two seasons ago but in the shadows after playing only 25 league games last season, was in the side only because new Continental stars David Ginola and Jose Dominguez were injured.

    He set up Ferdinand for two splendid strikes, and after Villa had taken control with sharp finishing by Dwight Yorke and £7million Stan Collymore, it was Fox who had the final say in a five-goal thriller.
    Ferdinand, who could have had at least two more goals but limped off before the end with a thigh injury, returned the compliment by applying a vital headed touch to Andy Sinton's cross, leaving Fox a conclusive close-range drive 14 minutes from the end.
    It left Villa with their fourth consecutive defeat and manager Brian Little pondering on just how he can reintroduce the winning habit to a side which only in slack moments of defence looked significantly below the standards they achieved in reaching a UEFA Cup place last season.
    They collared control of the game after Ferdinand had rattled home Fox's through pass in only the sixth minute.
    And after Ian Taylor robbed Sinton on the half-way line to send Yorke scampering clear to collect a 28th minute equaliser, it all appeared set up for a much needed Villa victory when Collymore buried an eight-yard volley after Spurs failed to defend a corner.

    Collymore, abused by the home fans with the inevitable ``what a waste of money'' had seen an audacious 20-yard lob which floated into an empty net disallowed by referee Michael Riley right on the mark of half-time for Yorke's foul on goalkeeper Ian Walker.
    But the enigmatic, leggy striker appeared to have settled matters eight minutes after the break when Spurs, fortunate to escape after Yorke wriggled clear again to strike his shot against Walker's legs, failed to cut out Steve Staunton's corner and Taylor laid on Collymore's tempting opportunity which he did not waste.
    But Ferdinand, who had seen Villa keeper Mark Bosnich block his run through onto Sinton's pass and then comfortably save a tame unchallenged shot by the England striker, finally hit the target again.

    Fox was again the provider, taking David Howell's pass to arrow the ball towards the far post where Ferdinand was unstoppable with a flying, bullet header.
    Bosnich, berated throughout by the Spurs fans who were upset by his misfiring Nazi-salute joke at White Hart Lane last season, kept Villa on terms with a flying save to deny Sinton's long-range effort.
    But the keeper had no chance when another Sinton cross was headed on by Ferdinand and Fox, for whom Spurs manager Gerry Francis turned down a £2million Leicester bid last month, took his opportunity to become a Tottenham favourite once again.

	See the goal...		Ferdinand 6'
			Ferdinand 66'
			Fox 77'
	Hear the goal...