Spurs' League Record at Villa Park

Spurs will be looking for a third successive win against a relegation threatened side to strengthen their claim for a Champions League place next season which has been boosted by Arsenal's home draw with Norwich City.  With only two Premier League games remaining, the permutations for Champions League qualification continue to intrigue.

Tottenham's recent results at Villa Park have gone a little way to improve their overall record against Aston Villa.  In November, Spurs had a very comfortable two goal success over Villa at White Hart Lane with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring both goals. 

League Record at Villa Park (inc. PL)

P  69  W 20  D  19  L  30  For  91  Ag  106

Away Premier League Record against Villa

P  19  W  3  D  7  L  9  For  16  Ag  25 

Last Season's Result:

Dec. 2010  PL  Won 2 - 1  Van der Vaart (2) 

A goal in each half by Rafael Van der Vaart ensured Spurs' fans enjoyed their Boxing Day journey home.  Van der Vaart brought his total of goals against Villa to four having scored both goals in the 2 - 1 win at White Hart Lane the previous October.  Villa pulled one goal back through Agbonlahor with eight minutes remaining but the result was never in doubt even though Spurs played with ten men for over an hour after Jermain Defoe had been harshly sent off in the 26th minute, three minutes after Van der Vaart had opened the scoring. 

Previous PL Games at Villa Park: 

Nov. 2009  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Dawson

This was one of Spurs' best away performances in many seasons.  Agbonlahor put Villa ahead after ten minutes but Spurs then gained control and in the second half it was wave after wave of Spurs attacks in search of a goal.  It eventually came from Michael Dawson with thirteen minutes remaining.  Spurs continued to seek a goal while Villa with everyone back were just happy to clear the ball and they were the team most relieved to hear the final whistle. 

March, 2009  PL  Won 2 - 1  Jenas, Bent

Jermaine Jenas gave Spurs an early lead and Darren added the second early in the second half.   Villa scored five minutes from time but Spurs secured their first win at Villa Park since January, 2003.  Both Jenas and Bent have since become Villa players - Jenas, on loan this season before serious injury brought it to an end, and Bent following a transfer from Sunderland.

Jan. 2008  PL  Lost 1 - 2  Defoe

Spurs conceded a goal four minutes before half-time from a set-piece.  Defoe equalised with ten minutes left but then conceded another goal from a set-piece five minutes later.

Oct. 2006  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Opp. o.g.

Angel was the a Spurs' hero on the day but a Villa villain as he missed a penalty when Calum Davenport was sent off to reduce Spurs to ten men and then his own goal put them ahead with fifteen minutes remaining.  Villa equalised through Gareth Barry five minutes later.  This was goalkeeper Paul Robinson's first game following his blunder which contributed to England's defeat in Croatia.

Sept. 2005  PL  Draw 1 - 1  Keane

Substitute Robbie Keane released all his frustrations as he struck the ball to bring Spurs level in the second half with twelve minutes left.  Spurs starting line-up contained eleven internationals for the first time.

Nov. 2004  PL  Lost 0 - 1

May, 2004  PL  Lost 0 - 1

Jan. 2003  PL  Won 1 - 0  Sheringham

A Teddy Sheringham goal after seventy minutes secured Spurs first Premier League win at Villa Park.  It was Tottenham's first success there since season 1986-87. 

Aug. 1986  1st Div.  Won 3 - 0  Allen, C. (3)

The opening day of the season and Spurs had the joy of a win and a hat-trick from Clive Allen.  It was the beginning of a tremendous season for Spurs under new manager, David Pleat, when Spurs finished third in the League, were knocked out in the semi-finals of the Littlewoods Cup and lost in the FA Cup Final to Coventry City - the 'nearly-season'.  Clive Allen went on to break Jimmy Greaves' record for goals scored in a season, one that is unlikely to be beaten.  Villa were relegated at the end of the season. 


A Great Run for Spurs at Villa Park:
Spurs' return to 1st Division football in 1950-51 season started a remarkable sequence of results against Aston Villa at Villa Park.  They went eleven seasons without defeat, winning on eight occasions.  The series started with seven consecutive wins from September, 1950 to September, 1956.

Sept. 1950  1st Div.  Won 3 - 2  Murphy, Duquemin, Medley
March, 1952  1st Div.  Won 3 - 0  Walters, Duquemin (2)
Nov. 1952  1st Div.  Won 3 - 0  Bennett, Duquemin, Dicker
Dec. 1953  1st Div.  Won 2 - 1  Walters, Baily
Aug. 1954  1st Div.  Won 4 - 2  Dowsett, Bennett (2), Baily
Nov. 1955  1st Div.  Won 2 - 0  Clarke, McClellan
Sept. 1956  1st Div.  Won 4 - 2  Harmer, Smith, Stokes, Robb

Spurs' First Win at Villa Park:

Tottenham's first League success at Villa Park came in March, 1925 at the eleventh attempt.  The only goal was scored by centre forward Bill Lane.

Biggest Win at Villa Park:

In January, 1934 Spurs won 5 - 1 in a 1st Division game as Spurs finished the season in third position.  The goals were scored by Tom Meads, Jimmy McCormick (2), Les Howe, George Hunt.

As Baggyshorts commented last week on Twitter, 'History counts for nothing' which is of course true but it's interesting to see how Spurs have got on in the past against their opponents.  Third place is now in Spurs' own hands and a win over Aston Villa will put them in control with only one match remaining and to echo David Chambers tweet, 'Our destiny is back in our own hands now.  Please win tomorrow, Spurs!'  

And so say all of us.

They Played for Tottenham and Blackburn Rovers

The Tottenham team which defeated Blackburn Rovers 2 - 1 at Ewood Park in the Premier League had former Rovers keeper, Brad Friedel in goals while the former Spurs goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, was in the Rovers team.  A third goalkeeper to have played for both clubs is the Rovers' goalkeeping coach, Bobby Mimms.


'The Good, the Bad and the Old Man' of Goalkeepers

From a Tottenham perspective the 'bad' can only be Bobby Mimms who joined from Everton where he had been understudy to Neville Southall.  Terry Venables signed him in February, 1988 for £325,000. However, his Tottenham career is remembered for a series of mistakes and as the blunders increased so his confidence diminished.  He was sold on to Blackburn in December, 1990 for £250,000 having only played 37 League games for Spurs.  During his time at Ewood Park he helped the club return to the 1st Division and establish themselves as a top club.

Paul Robinson

The 'good' is Paul Robinson who joined Tottenham from Leeds United for £1.5 million in 2004 and made himself a firm favourite with supporters with his excellent performances as Tottenham showed steady progress under Martin Jol. He established himself as 'England's Number 1' and looked set for a long career with Spurs.  However, his form took a dip and with it, his confidence, so that he became less reliable for both club and country.  He came under much scrutiny and lost his place at Tottenham during Juande Ramos' short time at the club.  However, he returned to the team in time for the Carling Cup win over Chelsea.  The following summer, Ramos signed Heurelho Gomes from PSV and Robinson realised that he needed to move on to further his career.  He joined Blackburn in July, 2008 for £3.5 million where he has seen his form return as he has put in more confident and reliable performances.  During his time with Spurs he played 137 League matches and scored one goal against Watford at White Hart Lane.

The 'old man' can only be Brad Friedel who at 40 years of age joined Spurs from Aston Villa in the summer on a free transfer.  He has immediately become first choice goalkeeper and has brought a confidence and calm to the Tottenham defence, something which tends to be missing when Gomes is playing.  In spite of conceding eight goals in his first two games, Friedel is showing that his age doesn't prevent him from turning in Premier league standard performances each week.  

Friedel had been a reserve at Liverpool for three years before joining Blackburn in 2000, making 287 League appearances at Ewood Park.  During his time at Ewood Park, he turned in a match winning performance in the League Cup Final of 2002 to deny Tottenham at Cardiff.  He then joined Aston Villa in 2008 and played 114 League games.  He made 82 appearances for the United States before retiring from international football in 2005.

Other Goalkeepers
A fourth goalkeeper to appear for both clubs is William Arthur Hughes, known as 'Archie', who made two League appearances for Tottenham in the late 1940s before moving to Ewood Park.  He had been a 'guest' player at Spurs during the war, playing regularly in 1944 and was one of only two 'guest' players who were to sign permanently for the club at the end of the war.

 A fifth goalkeeper who played at Ewood Park early in the 20th Century was 'Tiny' Joyce.  He spent a year at the club and then returned to Millwall.  After Tottenham had entered the Football League, he came to White Hart Lane from 1909 to 1915.  He was known as 'Tiny' because of his size and played 73 games for Spurs.  He scored a League goal for Tottenham against Bolton in 1914 and was the only goalkeeper to score a League goal for the club until Paul Robinson matched him in 2007.

Other Players
Mike England was an experienced Welsh international centre-half when he joined Tottenham from Blackburn for £95,000 in the summer of 1966.  He quickly established himself in the middle of the Spurs defence and helped Tottenham to FA Cup victory over Chelsea the following May.  He was a vital member of the successful teams of the early 1970s winning the League Cup and in Europe.  He scored in the UEFA Cup Final 1st leg match against Feyenoord at White Hart Lane but after drawing at home Spurs lost the away leg in Holland.  England was a threat when he moved forward for set-pieces and he played at centre forward on occasions.  He developed a good understanding with Pat Jennings and Phil Beal who were the mainstay of the Tottenham defence for a period of over eight seasons.

Ossie Ardiles went on loan to Blackburn at the end of his Tottenham career for a period in a bid to help them win promotion from the 2nd Division.  while he was there he met up with Steve Archibald who was also on loan at Ewood Park from Barcelona. 

Tim Sherwood who is currently responsible for the Tottenham 'Development' squad was at Ewood park during their most successful period at the start of the Premier league era and captained them to the title in 1995.  He joined Tottenham in 1999 but missed out on their Worthington Cup success a few weeks later.  He was a member of the losing Tottenham team in 2002 when Brad Friedel's goalkeeping display brought success to his former club.  With the current uncertainty at Ewood Park, Sherwood is someone who has recently been mentioned as a possible candidate for a Director of Football role at the club.  He is also considered a possible replacement for Harry Redknapp at Tottenham if he should become manager of England next summer.

Noel Brotherston, a Northern Ireland international winger made one appearance for Spurs in 1976 before joining Blackburn in July, 1977.  

Three forwards who played for both clubs in the early years of the last century were:

George Crompton, a centre forward played for both clubs in the early 1900s, making 9 League appearances for Spurs, with his only goal coming in an abandoned match.  

Ted Harper had two spells at Blackburn.  He joined Spurs from Sheffield Wednesday in 1929 before leaving for Preston in 1931.  He rejoined Rovers two years later.  Harper was a prolific goal scorer and set the Tottenham record of 36 goals in a season in 1931-32.  Bobby Smith equalled it in the 1950s, Jimmy Greaves broke it in the 1960s and Clive Allen claimed the record in the 1980s.  Harper's record could have been even greater had he not had to miss six of the final eight games through injury.  In total he scored 83 goals for Tottenham in 78 appearances.

Ronnie Dix had a season at Blackburn in the early 1930s.  He joined Tottenham in 1939 but the outbreak of war seriously interrupted his Spurs career.  He played for the club for two years after the war but went to Reading in 1947.

Spurs in History - 4th May

4th May, 1963
Spurs 4 Sheffield United 2 (1st Division)

Another Jimmy Greaves goal scoring record.

This season, 1962 - 63, Spurs were looking to Europe for success but Greaves continued his phenomenal goal scoring feats by setting a new record for the number of League goals scored in a season.

The previous record of 36 had been set in 1930-31 by Ted Harper when Spurs were in the Second Division and equalled in 1957-58 by Bobby Smith.

Greaves created a new record of 37 when scoring Spurs third against United.

The other goals came from Frank Saul, Cliff Jones and Terry Dyson. Although three games remained, he failed to add to his total for the season.

The following year he scored 35 League goals and since then only Clive Allen has come near to his record, scoring 33 in 1986-87.

Spurs in History - 24th March

24th March, 1934

Newcastle United 1 Spurs 3 1st Division
A game which saw Spurs winning with a hat-trick from their prolific goal scoring centre forward, George Hunt. This was the second of his three hat-tricks in the space of six games and in total he scored five hat-tricks during the season including four in a game against Sheffield United. He scored 35 League and Cup goals in season 1933-34, as Spurs finished third in the League, to add to 36 the previous year and 26 in the season before that.
Hunt held the aggregate goal scoring record until Bobby Smith surpassed it. Capped by England on three occasions, he scored 138 goals in 198 appearances.