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Tottenham’s Last Five Boxing Day Matches

By Alexander Balano

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur players react after the 2015 MLS All Star Game against the MLS All Stars at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur players react after the 2015 MLS All Star Game against the MLS All Stars at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. MLS All Stars won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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#5 — Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham | December 26, 2010

Embed from Getty Images

Venue: Villa Park
Goalscorers:
— Aston Villa: Marc Albrighton (82′)
— Tottenham: Rafael van der Vaart (23′, 67′)

This was one game to remember. Tottenham would go down a man in the 27th minute after Jermain Defoe was sent off following an elbow to Villa defender, James Collins, as the two men were battling it out for the ball.

To lose your star striker so early in the match and go for the next 63 minutes with 10 men and have Rafael van der Vaart returning from a back injury. The cards were stacked against Spurs even though they held a 2-0 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. An 82nd minute goal by Marc Albrighton pulled one back for the hosts, but it wasn’t enough in the end.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp insisted that his club was capable of contending for the league title during the 2010-11 Premier League season and this game showed that his team can do so. Obviously the season saw Tottenham finish fifth and six points behind Arsenal for the final Champions League spot. But still, this was a good sign that Tottenham can get the job done when push comes to shove.

Next: #4 Norwich City vs Tottenham