A late goal by Michael Dawson secured Tottenham a 1-1 draw at Villa Park to move Spurs up to third place in the table.

Dawson crashed home a superb late volley to level the match after Gabriel Agbonlahor scrambled home the opener for the hosts after Spurs had failed to deal with a Villa corner in the tenth minute.

After their 9-1 demolition of Wigan Spurs coach Harry Redknapp fielded the same line-up that thrilled the White Hart Lane faithful last weekend.

In a match deemed the ‘best-of-the-rest,’ neither side could land a knock-out blow as they seek to consolidate a grip on the much-coveted fourth place Champions League spot.

The hosts started the brighter with winger Ashley Young looking particularly lively, and went ahead in the tenth minute.

Defender Carlos Cuellar flicked on Young’s corner and winger Gabriel Agbonlahor was on hand to scramble the ball home for 1-0 after the Spurs defence failed to deal with a Villa corner.

The goal was testament to Villa’s fast start although Spurs almost grabbed an equaliser when in-form striker Jermain Defoe saw his shot magnificently cleared off the line by Cuellar in the twentieth minute.

The England striker then flashed a volley over Brad Friedel’s goal as the visitors began to show just why they are serious Champions League contenders this season.

After the break Spurs continued to be in the ascendancy as midfielder Niko Kranjcar stung the palms of Friedel with a well struck shot from the edge of the box as the home side began to flounder.

The Lillywhites had the ball in the back of the net in the 73rd minute when Villa tormentor-in-chief Defoe seized on Steve Sidwell’s attempted clearance before slotting home. However, referee Phil Dowd correctly noted a handball.

The equaliser finally came from an unlikely source. Spurs defender Martin Dawson chested home a poor clearance from Villa defender Richard Dunne before slamming home a volley to the delight of the travelling fans in the 77th minute.

Villa substitute Emile Heskey almost grabbed a late winner for the home side but his glancing flew wide.

The draw moves Spurs up to third in the table on 26 points, one ahead of North London rivals Arsenal who entertain Chelsea on Sunday. Aston Villa stay in fifth place on 23 points.

Teams; Man of the Match:

Aston Villa (4-3-3): Friedel, L Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Beye, Milner, Petrov, A Young, Reo-Coker (Sidwell 71’), Agbonlahor, Carew (Heskey 76’).

Tottenham (4-4-2): Gomes, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, Dawson, Palacios (Jenas 66’), Huddlestone, Lennon, Kranjcar (Keane 78’), Defoe, Crouch.