When all is said and Dunne...

A SCORELESS stalemate may have done little to clarify the narrowing margins between the clutch of club with top four aspirations, but it spoke volumes about the strengths of Aston Villa and specifically the importance of Richard Dunne and Brad Friedel to their ambitions.

Villa’s ability to frustrate teams is emerging as their greatest asset and an outstandingly frugal run during which they have conceded just one goal in their last nine league games has provided the platform for their continuing challenge for a Champions League place.

Their defensive abilities were showcased at White Hart Lane with Dunne to the fore, meeting every Tottenham threat with a bruising response while Friedel, at 38, remains one the Premier League’s most impressive goalkeepers.