Defensive duo expose Spurs frailties

Martin Laursen atoned for a dreadful first-half miss by scoring a late winner for Aston Villa as they maintained their push for a European place with a 2-1 home win over Tottenham.

The Denmark international shot over from close range with the goal at his mercy, before Olof Mellberg broke the deadlock with a powerful header from a Ashley Young free-kick, four minutes before the interval.

Jermain Defoe looked to have rescued a point for Spurs when he volleyed home after 79 minutes in only his second league start of the campaign, but from another set-piece Laursen had the final say when he headed in his fifth goal of the campaign.

Villa were soon on the offensive and after five minutes the recalled Luke Moore, starting for the first time since early November, missed a golden chance when he turned sharply past Michael Dawson and dragged his shot wide.

Villa continued to look the more threatening and Laursen should have put them ahead when Stiliyan Petrov's cross into the near post was only half-cleared to the unmarked Dane eight yards out, but he lofted the ball over the crossbar.

It was no surprise when Mellberg broke the deadlock after 41 minutes with his second goal of the season.

Young won yet another free-kick after being fouled by Kevin Prince-Boating and his centre was met by the unmarked Mellberg, who headed past Paul Robinson into the corner of the net.

Tottenham retaliated and Scott Carson blocked a fierce shot from Dimitar Berbatov, before Curtis Davies deflected a shot from Robbie Keane over his own crossbar.

Moore missed his second clear-cut chance when he sliced his shot wide from Petrov's low cross and Tottenham had penalty claims rejected after a challenge by Davies on Keane.

Defoe levelled matters with an opportunist strike, but then Laursen had the final say.