Tottenham v Aston Villa preview

Two sides eager to get back to winning ways meet on Monday

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 15th September 2008

Tottenham v Aston Villa preview

Ramos: Under mounting pressure

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Spurs 1 Villa 1

SKY BET odds: Spurs 6/5, Draw 9/4, Villa 23/10

One to Watch: Roman Pavlyuchenko

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Tottenham will be looking to climb off the foot of the Premier League table on Monday night when they host Aston Villa.

Juande Ramos' side were tipped to be among those challenging the top-four monopoly this season, but are already languishing well off the pace.

Summer transfer shenanigans have hardly helped their cause, but one point from three fixtures represents a dismal haul for a club which spent big on creativity during pre-season.

Defeat against Villa would see them slump to their worst-ever start to a Premier League season and pile more pressure on Ramos.

While Spurs can ill-afford their early woes to continue, they also need to turn White Hart Lane into a fortress.

They have taken just two points from the last available 12 on home turf, scoring only three goals.

While Tottenham's problems are well documented, Villa have made an unspectacular start to the new campaign.

A 4-2 demolition of Manchester City on the opening weekend suggested Martin O'Neill's men were in fine fettle this term, but resulting performances have failed to reach that level.

Only one defeat in their last seven games in all competitions proves the Villans have become a solid outfit, but only one win in six Premier League outings needs improving.

They cannot blame early-season rustiness for their failings either, as Monday's game will be their eighth of the season.

O'Neill will be hoping that his side can replicate their performance from the corresponding fixture last season, without the dramatic late collapse.

Villa led 4-1 heading into the final stages of the contest, only to allow Spurs to somehow snatch an unlikely point.

That result just about summed up Villa's recent luck in North London, though, as they have failed to claim maximum points from their last eight visits to White Hart Lane.

Duo set for debuts

Tottenham could hand debuts to two of their most recent arrivals in the crunch encounter.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka, signed from Spartak Moscow and Manchester City respectively, will be hoping to be involved.

Pavlyuchenko will fill the attacking void left by Dimitar Berbatov's switch to Manchester United, while Corluka is expected to come in for Chris Gunter at right-back.

Villa could also include a debutant on Monday, with Carlos Cuellar back in contention.

The centre-half has been struggling with a calf problem since his move from Rangers, but is now ready for action.

Craig Gardner withdrew from the England U21 squad last week but should be fit enough to play, while Steve Sidwell remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Possible starting XIs

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Bale, Bentley, Zokora, Jenas, Modric, Dos Santos, Pavlyuchenko.

Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Laursen, Davies, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, A Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.