Spurs 0 Aston Villa 0: Friedel shows fourth is not with Redknapp's men
Feb 08 2010 - 00:21:42
There were plenty who scoffed at Rafa Benitez's 'guarantee' that Liverpool would end the season in the top four but Harry Redknapp and Martin O'Neill are adamant they were not among them.
This was not a case of both managers getting their excuses in early in the wake of a well-contested draw.
Rather, a sense of realism about the task that breaking into the top four represents. With Liverpool moving above Spurs into fourth, the race for the final Champions League place has the hallmarks of a highly-entertaining sideshow that will run until the end of the season.
Firing blanks: Brad Friedel prevented Spurs from scoring at White Hart Lane
Tottenham's Redknapp was at pains to point out that his side havesuffered just two defeats in the 12 games since they smashed nine goalspast Wigan.
During that period, however, Spurs have won only four and taken 18points from a possible 36. Villa have engineered eight clean sheetsfrom their last 10 matches, but a scoring average of less than a goal agame suggests where their top four hopes are likely to come unstuck.
A lack of goal threat was certainly in evidence at White Hart Laneas Gabby Agbonlahor, Emile Heskey and his first-half replacement, JohnCarew, did little to threaten Tottenham's back four.
The same cannot be said for Spurs who, although one-dimensional intheir use of Peter Crouch's height, managed 15 attempts on target onlyto be denied by Brad Friedel's saves and a series of heroic blocks byRichard Dunne.
Spurs defender Ledley King, despite his creaking knees, is relishing the fight for fourth place.
He said: 'Any footballer playing at club level aspires to play inthe Champions League. We believe we can still do it but it's going togo down to the wire.'
Despite Benitez's confidence in his team's chances, that would seem guaranteed.
Mark wasn't Bright - but he's not the first to make a Twit of himself tweeting!Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 0: Rock-solid Friedel and Dunn frustrate SpursLiverpool 1 Everton 0: Kuyt on-song as rivals reduced to ten men apieceTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
