Match Report

Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur

Bosnich, Nelson, Staunton, Wright, Ehiogu, Scimeca, Taylor, Draper, Grayson, Milosevic, Collymore.

Attendance
38,644.

Referee
A B Wilkie

Walker, Carr, Wilson (Allen, 74), Campbell, Calderwood, Mabbutt (Anderton, 74), Fox, Neilsen, Sinton (Clemence, 26), Ginola, Iversen.

Subs not used: Charles, Hendrie, Collins, Byfield, Oakes.

Subs not used: Dominguez, Baardsen.

Booked: Ehiogu.

Booked:

Goal Scorer: Draper 38, 68, Collymore 81, 89

Goal Scorer: Calderwood 59

    Stan Collymore finally produced the goods for Aston Villa tonight as he scored twice to help Brian Little's side rout woeful Tottenham in the Premiership's relegation clash at Villa Park.
    He had managed only two goals in 21 previous matches for the Midlands side and went into the game with an assault charge hanging over his head following an alleged incident involving his former girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
    There was even speculation that Villa manager Little might leave out the striker known as `Stan The Man'.
    But he kept faith with his £7million capture and was rewarded with Villa's final two goals in a resounding victory.
    It prompted the Villa fans to shout `Are you watching Andy Gray' - a reference to the stinging attack on Collymore last week by the Sky television pundit.
    Collymore's late blast took the headlines away from two-goal Villa midfielder Mark Draper - the player who had almost forgotten how to score.
    Draper's goal at Barnsley in early September was his first in two seasons and he had experienced another barren spell going into the Boxing Day encounter, but he came up trumps against Christian Gross' side.
    Villa were worthy winners as well, with Draper again showing the kind of form which earned him a call-up from England coach Glenn Hoddle early last season.

    Fernando Nelson was also a constant menace with his runs and crosses down the right flank, while Savo Milosevic and Collymore were always a constant threat to the wobbly Spurs rearguard.
    But for Tottenham the alarm bells are ringing - and the arrival of Jurgen Klinsmann cannot come quickly enough to lift a season of despair.
    The German was in Italy with his family and did not witness this latest debacle, which means Spurs have now lost eight of their last 11 League matches and conceded 14 goals in the last four.
    Villa dominated the opening 45 minutes, but there was a lack of a cutting edge before Draper broke the deadlock seven minutes before the interval.

    Indeed, Tottenham should have gone ahead in the 11th minute when Steffen Iversen sent a free header wide from Ruel Fox's cross when only eight yards out.
    Villa's biggest early threat came from Spurs defender Gary Mabbutt, who was relieved to see his own goalkeeper, Ian Walker, turn a poorly-directed clearance around a post after he had taken the ball off the foot of Milosevic at full stretch.
    Collymore then burst into life to run onto an Ian Taylor pass, but he directed his low shot across goal and wide of the far post.
    However, the frustration of the Villa fans evaporated when Draper grabbed a rare headed goal.
    Steve Staunton fed Milosevic and he cut inside before supplying a cross for Draper, whose header had enough power to find its way into the corner of the net despite Walker getting a hand to the ball.
    Villa again called the tune territorially after the break - but in the 59th minute Tottenham got back on level terms in controversial circumstances.
    Villa keeper Mark Bosnich beat out a volley from Ruel Fox and when substitute Stephen Clemence turned the ball back across the box, Spurs defender Colin Calderwood looked to deflect the ball into the net via his arm.
    Villa protested in vain and they were again incensed when Spurs defender Stephen Carr seemed to handle a high ball just inside the area - only for referee Alan Wilkie to rule the offence had taken place inches outside the box.
    But the anger on the terraces dissolved when Draper struck his second goal in the 68th minute.
    Collymore's chip looked to be easy meat for Walker, but he collided with Iversen and Draper was on hand to drill home the loose ball from close range.
    Then in the 81st minute Collymore made the points safe for Villa when heturned home a low centre from the hard-working Simon Grayson.
    A minute from time Collymore doubled his Villa goal tally when Walker wasonly able to palm his 30 yard freekick into the net.

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