Redknapp scores first goal for Spurs

Tottenham 1, Aston Villa 0 (half-time)

Jamie Redknapp landed his first Premiership goal for Tottenham with a shot on the rebound that bounced past injured Aston Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman in the 26th minute at White Hart Lane.

But Villa could count themselves unfortunate to be trailing at the interval with Lee Hendrie going close three times and the towering Peter Crouch missing at least one good chance against his former club.

Enckelman was able to continue after treatment and his head had probably cleared by the time Crouch squandered a great chance to grab a quick equaliser at the other end, rising above the Spurs defence giraffe-like but steering Kinsella’s cross wide of the mark with a clear header.

It seemed for a moment that the earth shuddered when Crouch and Gardner collided, both falling to the ground near the half way line and referee Clive Wilkes awarded a free-kick to Villa. Steve Staunton played it low towards Spurs’ box - and got nowhere.

The rest of the first half was poor with both sides regularly conceding possession until Hendrie whipped a low angled drive just wide of the post in stoppage time.