Published: 11 April, 2015  
by DAN CARRIER at White Hart Lane

Premier League 
SPURS 0, ASTON VILLA 1

ASTON Villa manager Tim Sherwood won three valuable points on his return to Spurs – and claimed afterwards that all that was on his mind was how vital the scrappy victory was as his side edge closer to Premier League safety. 

Villa grabbed the win through a 35th-minute Christian Benteke header, and Sherwood said the performance stood out from the games he has been involved in since taking over in the claret and blue dugout a month ago. 

He said: "It was my most satisfying, as it is such an important stage of the season. I know both teams very well and I have a lot of respect for [Spurs chairman] Daniel Levy. This club has been good to me in the past and without them, I would not be the manager of Aston Villa." 

His opposite number, Mauricio Pochettino, tacitly admitted the defeat meant they were now playing for the dubious prize of Europa League football next season. One point from the last six means fourth spot is a distant dream. 

He said: "We'd now need to win all our remaining games and hope others drop points. In the last two games we have played against teams in the bottom of the league, and both Burnley and Villa have proved difficult opponents."

Pochettino added that the return of Sherwood did not make a difference to his players or how he approached the game. He said: "I did not feel any pressure because Tim was here. Players and managers come back to former clubs – this is football."

It took until the 25th minute for Spurs to carve out the first chance. Christian Eriksen made space centrally and spotted Danny Rose overlapping. The full-back's fierce shot was stopped at the near post by Brad Guzan in the Villa goal. 

On 35 minutes, Villa took the lead through Benteke. Vlad Chiriches, deputising for the injured Kyle Walker at right-back, tried to play the ball out of defence but his sloppy pass inside was swooped on by Fabian Delph. A simple cross eluded the Spurs defence and Benteke nodded home. 

A disappointing first half continued into an error-strewn second. Spurs lacked rhythm and Villa were happy to sit deep. With Eriksen and Harry Kane having quiet days, there wasn't the required magic to force the issue. The closest the home team came was via Kane on 58 minutes. The young striker, marshalled by Ron Vlaar in the Villa defence, finally worked space on the edge of the box and curled an effort against the bar.

Spurs had an end-of-term look about them, and this defeat laid bare how ordinary they can be when the motivation levels are low. 

SPURS: Vorm, Rose, Chiriches (Yedlin, 78), Dier, Townsend (Lamela, 78), Kane, Fazio, Chadli (Soldado, 61), Eriksen, Mason, Bentaleb.
Subs: Friedel, Paulinho, Soldado, Lamela, Yedlin, Stambouli, Davies.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

Five points from today's game:

Tim Sherwood's Villa players looked like they needed the points, Spurs looked like they weren't as bothered. That was the difference. 

Mousa Dembele did not make the matchday squad. If he isn't injured, that's some fall from grace. He was superb in the exhilarating league victories against Chelsea and Arseanal only three months ago, but disappeared in the first half versus West Ham and hasn't been seen since. If he leaves this summer, he'll be one of those Spurs nearly-men: a clear talent, but not fully utilised. 

The only width offered came from Danny Rose on the overlap. It made things tight in the middle, and easy for Villa to defend against. 

The last six matches are surely about sorting the wheat from the chaff for the 2015/16 season. Daniel Levy will be busy this summer – the squad needs someone who can grab things by the scruff of the neck when the younger players are drifting.

Full-back DaAndre Yedlin made a long-awaited debut as a 75th-minute substitute. He looks ready. Expect to see him bedded in over the next six games.