No complaints for Villa goalkeeper

Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel has admitted his team could have no complaints with being forced to settle for a point against Tottenham – despite being just 13 minutes from victory.

A 77th-minute goal from Spurs skipper Michael Dawson cancelled out striker Gabby Agbonlahor’s first-half effort to earn Harry Redknapp’s side a richly-deserved 1-1 draw in Saturday’s late kick-off at Villa Park.

Spurs camped in the Villa half for the second 45 minutes and only a string of fine saves from Friedel kept them at bay before Dawson finally made the breakthrough.

The goalkeeper said: “Tottenham were very, very good value in the second half. They were on the front foot and we were holding on. We needed four or five more minutes to get us into the last 10 minutes when the lads might have got some extra energy.

“But at least in the end we didn’t lose.”

Boss Martin O’Neill admitted his team had no answer to their top-four rivals in the second half.

He said: “I’m happy with a point. I thought we played very well first half. We tried to close them down as quickly as we could. We had great energy and determination and we got the goal.

“I thought at half-time we really deserved that. In the second half Tottenham came out, got gritty in midfield and maybe there were two reasons: One, their own good play and two, we camped ourselves on the edge of our box and couldn’t get out quickly enough when we were clearing it.

“We certainly lost rhythm and momentum and got tired and Tottenham deserved the equaliser.”

The Villa boss praised Carlos Cuellar for an outstanding performance which included a goal-saving clearance off the line.

O’Neill added: “He was really brilliant and that will give him a massive boost. He gets on very well with the boys. They actually love him, they give him a lot of stick.

“The beard is gruesome. He looks like a werewolf. But I think he might be doing that for charity or maybe a bet? I’m not so sure, but that will come off sooner or later!”

But Spurs chief Harry Redknapp was disappointed not to get the three points.

He said: “We dominated and I’m sure Martin was happier to hear the final whistle than I was. There was only one team going to win it in the second half and it was just a case of getting the goal – once we equalised I was sure we were going to go on and win it.

“Who knows what is going to happen with regards to the top four. Villa are going to be up there. The top two will probably be Chelsea and Manchester United, then will come Arsenal,Liverpool, Manchester City, Villa and ourselves.

“One of us might break into the top four and it is not impossible for us to do it. It will be hard but we have got some good players.”

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This article was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 9:15 am.
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