Fri 12 May 2023, 11:45
Tottenham HotspurHold onto your hats against Aston Villa - not only has this fixture thrown up 51 goals in the last 17 matches, but it's also been home to a number of thrilling, late victories.
As we prepare to travel to Villa Park in a big Premier League clash in terms of European qualification on Saturday (3pm), here are five of the best...
Spurs 4-4 Villa - 1/10/2007
This was a night of celebration at the Lane - our 125th anniversary, a parade of legends, the team wearing a one-off kit, a replica of the light blue and white halves we wore for our first competitive game against St Albans in 1885 - but Villa looked like spoiling the party by going 4-1 up just before the hour.
We actually started well and Dimitar Berbatov nodded home from a Tom Huddlestone corner on 20 minutes, but Villa turned it around to lead 3-1 at half-time and then 4-1 when Craig Gardner netted on 59 minutes. Pascal Chimbonda struck back and the comeback was truly on when Robbie Keane converted from the penalty spot on 82 minutes. In the second minute of added time, a scramble in the box came out to Steed Malbranque, his shot hit Jermain Defoe and fell to Younes Kaboul, who hit a first-time rocket into the top corner, sparking joyous celebrations.
Spurs 2-1 Aston Villa - 2/10/2010
It didn't take long for Rafa van der Vaart to endear himself to the Spurs faithful - a double in only his second home game made it three in two at the Lane and turned around this game against Villa. Marc Albrighton put the visitors ahead after 16 minutes but the Dutchman was there to convert a Peter Crouch knock down on the stroke of half-time. The pair linked up again for the winning goal in a similar move on 75 minutes - Aaron Lennon whipped it in, Crouch got his head on it, and it dropped to Rafa, who completely lost defender Richard Dunne with a shimmy before rifling home. The fans went mad - and Rafa later told us that was his favourite Spurs goal. Rafa won the Premier League Player of the Month for October, would double up again against Villa in the away game on Boxing Day and we'd seen the start of quite a partnership between Crouchy and Rafa - the pair just clicked, with Rafa having the instinct to capitalise on his strike partner causing havoc in the air.
Aston Villa 1-2 Spurs - 2/11/2014
One for the history books - this was the day that cemented Harry Kane's place in the team. The striker - then 21 - had already scored eight goals in cup competitions that season, including a hat-trick against Asteras Tripolis, but had yet to really feature in the Premier League. Trailing to Andreas Weimann's goal on 16 minutes, Kane came off the bench on the hour for Emmanuel Adebayor, Christian Benteke was soon sent off and we dominated from there, eventually equalising through Nacer Chadli on 84 minutes. As we ticked into injury time, Kane lined-up a free-kick, central, 25 yards out and his strike flicked off Nathan Baker in the wall, leaving Brad Guzan helpless as the ball flew into the corner, sparking scenes as the players raced over to the away section! As we all know now, Harry didn't look back, scored 30 goals that season - and the rest is history!
Spurs 3-1 Aston Villa - 20/8/2019
The first full Premier League season at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium got underway with the sun beating down on N17. Aston Villa, newly promoted, were first to visit and determined to ruin the opening day vibe, taking an early lead through John McGinn on nine minutes. It stayed that way until 73 minutes when debutant Tanguy Ndombele found a gap to level from the edge of the box. Harry Kane then won it, first firing home after Erik Lamela's shot fell at his feet (86) before driving into the corner from 20 yards after Moussa Sissoko's break (90).
Aston Villa 2-3 Spurs - 16/2/2020
Heung-Min Son lined-up up front in Harry Kane's injury absence - and what an afternoon for the South Korean. It was all going on at Villa Park as firstly, Toby Alderweireld deflected into his own net to hand Villa the lead, only to equalise soon after with a superb strike on the turn from a corner. Sonny felt some discomfort after an awkward fall, but carried on and scored a rebound from the penalty spot to hand us the lead just before half-time. Bjorn Engels equalised on 53 and it looked like staying that way until the another grandstand finish. Davinson Sanchez played it forward, Engels missed it and Son raced into the area from the left before sliding the ball home, cool as you like. Days later, it emerged Sonny had broken his arm, then COVID struck, with the first lockdown on 23 March. Both Sonny and Harry were fit again by the time football returned that June.
