Minutes after taking the lead at Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspur have been reduced to 10 men. Contesting an aerial challenge against James Collins, Jermain Defoe's left elbow went into his counterparts face. It was an obligatory penalty. Martin Atkinson showed Defoe red, leaving Spurs to play a man down for the match's last hour.
Aston Villa Vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Wayward Elbow From Jermain Defoe Has Spurs Striker Seeing Red
The foul came in the 27th minute, four minutes after Rafael van der Vaart put the visitors in front. Seemingly attempting to get leverage against the taller man, Defoe’s elbow was innocuous. Atkinson, however, was left with little choice, the elevated elbow clearly making contact with Collins’ face. It took only a few moments of pause before Defoe was dismissed.
Left without a true forward, Harry Redknapp has yet to make a substitution, despite having both Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko on his bench. After ten minutes down a man, Redknapp has persisted with van der Vaart playing a forward position, now a de facto false nine, with Luke Modric continuing to orchestrate the match from midfield.
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