Brian Little hits his 22nd goal of the season and John Deehan his fifteenth as Villa don’t have to leave second gear to beat Tottenham at Villa Park but they do have to survive a second half penalty scare that would have give Spurs a totally unwarranted equaliser. This match represents Tottenham’s last but four game of the season, for Villa there are ten left to play in an incredibly congested final four weeks. And with an ever growing injury list it isn’t made any easier but Villa climb to 5th in the table, nine points behind leaders Liverpool with three games in hand.

Ron Saunders' Villa make it eighteen wins, five draws and nine defeats in thirty two division one games this season. As a result Villa have five games in hand over Ipswich Town who did not play and are now down to eight points ahead.