Alan Hansen’s Premier League Picks: Aston Villa v Tottenham

Tottenham arrive at Villa Park this weekend brimming with confidence after a 9-1 thrashing of Wigan last weekend. Harry Redknapp’s side could quite of easily had more such was the Latics defensive display. However, they face a very different proposition this weekend against an Aston Villa side that is sure to give Spurs a tough time in the Second City.

Tottenham have now won their last two league matches (both at White Hart Lane) after a poor display at the Emirates in the North London derby. However, their recent away form is not overly impressive. They’ve won one of their last four away league games (2 defeats). They may have beaten strugglers Hull, West Ham and Portsmouth on their travels this season but they’ve not looked as impressive when facing the better sides in the division on their own patch. Villa may not be in the same class as Chelsea and Arsenal who have both beaten Spurs 3-0 but they are one of the best sides outside of the big four.

Martin O’Neill’s team have turned Villa Park into a fortress despite a miserable opening match of the season. Since losing 2-0 to Wigan on the opening day, Villa have won 4 and drawn one of their five home games. This includes a victory over league leaders Chelsea and a 5-1 thrashing of Bolton in their last home game, so they are not to be underestimated.

Harry has improved Tottenham dramatically as a Premier League force and the team has a real cutting edge to it with Jermain Defoe at the forefront. He now leads the scoring charts with 11 goals despite missing three matches through suspension this season. Defoe has come on leaps and bounds this season and is at the very top of his game so is sure to be a handful for Villa defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins especially as he boasts a record of 4 goals in his last 4 league starts against the Villans. However, Defoe is not the only danger to Villa as there are plenty of other attacking stars in Spurs line-up. I certainly won’t be surprised If this is Villa’s 9th consecutive league game without a clean-sheet.

Aaron Lennon was in scintillating form against Wigan but is unlikely to have as easy a match against Stephen Warnock as he did against Erik Edman. However, one thing defenders hate to play against is pace so Lennon is sure to cause problems if he is given enough possession. I would be surprised if Fabio Capello wasn’t in attendance at Villa Park as this match will be packed with young English talent, perhaps more so than at any other Premier League fixture this weekend.

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Three of Villa’s brightest English talents James Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young will surely give Spurs defence plenty of trouble of their own with their pace and quality. Agbonlahor in particular may well be a thorn in Tottenham’s side if Harry opts for Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate as his central defenders as neither is blessed with anything like the pace the Villa frontman possesses. I would not be surprised if Harry opts for the speedy Sebastian Bassong instead of Dawson if Ledley King is ruled out. Villa will get chances as Spurs have kept just one clean-sheet in their last 17 away league trips and O’Neill’s team has scored in every single Premier League game since failing to score against Wigan on the opening day of the season.

Tottenham won at Villa Park last season but that was their only win there in the last 6 meetings (3 defeats) so this is not necessarily a happy hunting ground for the North Londoners. Villa are so dangerous from set-pieces that I think this game may well be decided by that route as these are two very even looking sides. Therefore, I’m backing the Villans to take all 3 points on the Premier 10 £45,000 rollover weekend.

Tags: Alan Hansen, Aston Villa, Premier 10, Premier League, Tottenham

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