TOTTENHAM VS. ASTON VILLA- PREVIEW AND BETTING TIPS

White Hart Lane hosts its second influential clash of the week, when Tottenham take on Aston Villa for the opportunity to break into the top four.
Tottenham have experienced a wild ride in the Premiership thus far, having not really shown the skills that catapulted them into the European top flight last season.
Having given plenty against Twente during the Champions League midweek battle, coupled with Spurs supposed 'hangover' mentality after European matches, many are sceptical as to whether Spurs can conjure up the ability to beat a team on the rise, such as Aston Villa.
Ledley King's ongoing knee problem could see him left out of today's line-up, resulting in Vedran Corluka and Sebastien Bassong being paired in central defence, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto could also feature at left-back.
Aston Villa would have been lifted by the recovery of John Carew and Richard Dunne from back and knee injuries respectively. Gabriel Agbonlahor has been ruled out on the back of being told that he has to undergo a minor groin operation
Regardless of the 'hangover' tag, Tottenham are heavy favourites with William Hill putting them at a highly enticing odds tag of 2.0, to Aston Villa's 3.75
Harbouring the strike force that Spurs does means that a 1-0 win is set at 8.5, with a 2-0 set at 11.0
Despite Villa's impressive form of late a 1-0 win in their favour will see 12.0, with a 2-0 as a magical 21.0!
On the goalscoring front Roman Pavlyuchenko is tops to score for Spurs at 2.25, with him locked it at an impressive 6.0 Robbie Keane who is due a big day is at 2.5- the pick of the lot today
For Villa John Carew heads the list at 3.75, with the long shot pick of Ashley Young coming in at 4.33
While Villa might do well here today, one needs to remember that they have only ever won this fixture once in the past decade.
Add this to the fact that new manager Gerard Houllier has lost five of his six previous league visits to White Hart Lane, and one begins to get the feeling that Villa is up against it today.
Betting Tip: Robbie Keane to score at any stage at 2.50