Aston Villa fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham this evening in a result that leaves them looking nervously over their shoulder to the relegation zone. Gerard Houllier’s men were second best for large periods of the match and despite piling on the pressure at the end, could not force a result.

After a high-tempo start to the match, Aston Villa would have been disappointed not to score first and also to concede the way they did, with James Collins failing to cut out a cross that was finished by Rafael van der Vaart. Jermain Defoe was then harshly sent off, giving Aston Villa the man advantage, but Villa couldn’t capitalise and it was van der Vaart who finished a sweeping break to put Spurs 2-0 up. Marc Albrighton’s cross-shot did reduce the arrears, but Villa couldn’t find an equaliser and are now just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

So what five things did we learn about Aston Villa today?

[divider]