A stunning late strike from Spurs centre-half Michael Dawson earned his side a point, cancelling out Gabriel Agbonlahor's tenth minute opener.
Harry Redknapp will be the happier of the two managers. Spurs dominated the second half of the game as Aston Villa sat back, trying to protect their slender lead.
Spurs started sluggishly while Villa, spearheaded by Jon Carew, looked likely to pose a threat from set pieces. And so it proved. In the tenth minute Assou-Ekotto scrambled a Carlos Cuellar header off the Spurs line, Agbonlahor reacted quickest to turn the ball in.
But as the game progressed the momentum gradually swung towards the visitors. Jermaine Defoe, Dawson and Tom Huddlestone all went close before the break.
Villa looked happy to sit on their advantage but their caution was only giving possession to Spurs, who looked increasingly dangerous and in control. Villa were a threat on the break but Spurs were dominant with Jermaine Jenas going close before Defoe had the ball in the net, only for referee Phil Dowd to disallow the goal.
Spurs eventually equalised with 13 minutes to go, Michael Dawson chesting the ball down before finishing crisply after a poor clearance from Richard Dunne.
It was little more than Spurs deserved for their dominance of most of the game and they pushed for a winner as Defoe again went close, but it was not to be.
Both managers will be happy with the outcome. Martin O'Neill will be pleased to come away from a game where his side were largely second best with a point, while Harry Redknapp must be encouraged by Spurs' domination of one of their main rivals to break into the top four.
Harry Redknapp will be the happier of the two managers. Spurs dominated the second half of the game as Aston Villa sat back, trying to protect their slender lead.
Spurs started sluggishly while Villa, spearheaded by Jon Carew, looked likely to pose a threat from set pieces. And so it proved. In the tenth minute Assou-Ekotto scrambled a Carlos Cuellar header off the Spurs line, Agbonlahor reacted quickest to turn the ball in.
But as the game progressed the momentum gradually swung towards the visitors. Jermaine Defoe, Dawson and Tom Huddlestone all went close before the break.
Villa looked happy to sit on their advantage but their caution was only giving possession to Spurs, who looked increasingly dangerous and in control. Villa were a threat on the break but Spurs were dominant with Jermaine Jenas going close before Defoe had the ball in the net, only for referee Phil Dowd to disallow the goal.
Spurs eventually equalised with 13 minutes to go, Michael Dawson chesting the ball down before finishing crisply after a poor clearance from Richard Dunne.
It was little more than Spurs deserved for their dominance of most of the game and they pushed for a winner as Defoe again went close, but it was not to be.
Both managers will be happy with the outcome. Martin O'Neill will be pleased to come away from a game where his side were largely second best with a point, while Harry Redknapp must be encouraged by Spurs' domination of one of their main rivals to break into the top four.
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