Graphic: air supremacy

Winter may finally have blown over but it is still a chill wind that gnaws away at the fabric of Aston Villa’s challenge to the Barclays Premier League’s hegemony. For the first time in three months, they have fallen from the top four and yesterday their plight was encapsulated by the reaction of the home supporters to Gabby Agbonlahor’s substitution. When the young England striker was replaced by Nathan Delfouneso in the 79th minutes a murmur of jeers accompanied his exit.

The Erdington-born forward has become a local hero in the past three seasons, his searing pace and improving all-round game endearing him to the Holte End just as much as to the England management. But, having played more than 40 games this season, he has hit a wall, scoring only once in his past 15 games.

Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, might have rested his leading goalscorer had his squad matched those of the four clubs above his, but instead he persisted with Agbonlahor, whose commitment cannot be questioned, even if his goal radar can. O’Neill criticised supporters for their frustration at the recent draw at home to Stoke City, when a two-goal lead was let slip in the dying moments, and yesterday he called for more perspective.

“Gabby has been fantastic since I’ve been here,” the manager said. “He’s going through a period at the minute where confidence is low but I’ve got to tell you that’s no way to treat the lad for what he’s done here. I’ll put up with many other things but that was not what was called for. People have very short memories.

“He’s a local lad who’s come through the ranks and he’s been absolutely terrific. He might occasionally give you the impression he’s got a bit of a swagger, that he doesn’t care, but that’s far from truth. He was certainly lacking in confidence today, and that’s the only reason why I took him off. The fans’ reaction was really disappointing.”

Villa have collected 22 points from a possible 45 at home and it is on their travels that they have built a campaign for a Champions League place. They face Liverpool and Manchester United next on the road but, as O’Neill pointed out, they had just lost to Newcastle United and Middlesbrough in November when they embarked on a 13-match unbeaten run that started with four points from successive matches against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur fans, rather than looking down at the relegation zone, above which they sat by three points at kick-off, can now look up to where West Ham United, four points better off, reside in seventh place. Finishing seventh may bring qualification for next season’s rebranded Uefa Cup, with a top-five club looking odds on to win the FA Cup.

Tottenham started looking upwards from their first attack in the fifth minute. Aaron Lennon, receiving Luka Modric’s marvellous pass, skinned Luke Young and crossed with devilment from the right. When Brad Friedel could only palm the ball out, Jermaine Jenas headed the ball over the line.

Ashley Young gave Didier Zokora twisted blood in the opening half hour, tying the makeshift right back in knots with his brilliant dribbling, and obliging Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, to replace him with Vedran Corluka after 35 minutes. In first-half stoppage time, from a cross by Gareth Barry, Emile Heskey headed against the angle of bar and post. It appeared inevitable that Villa would score.

“I thought we played great in the first half,” O’Neill said, “It looked a matter of when we’d get the equaliser. At half-time, I felt very confident and so did the players. But it was a desperately poor goal to concede early in the second half and we couldn’t regain our momentum.”

Again Lennon instigated the danger; he cut inside Luke Young, Wilson Palacios took control and when the former Wigan Athletic midfield player’s shot was parried, a cross-shot from Robbie Keane was touched over the line by Darren Bent.

John Carew did head home James Milner’s cross five minutes from time, but Spurs remain on the up. Villa may feel they are down in the gutter at the moment, but they are still looking up at the stars.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): B Friedel 6 - N Reo-Coker 6, C Cuéllar 4, Z Knight 4, L Young 7 - J Milner 5, S Petrov 7, G Barry 7, A Young 7 - G Agbonlahor 5, E Heskey 4. Substitutes: J Carew 5 (for Knight, 61min), N Delfouneso (for Agbonlahor, 79), C Gardner (for Heskey, 82). Not used: B Guzan, M Harewood, C Davies, N Shorey. Next: Liverpool (a).

Tottenham (4-4-2): H Gomes 6 - D Zokora 3, J Woodgate 8, L King 8, B Assou-Ekotto 5 - A Lennon 7, J Jenas 6, W Palacios 6, L Modric 5 - R Keane 6, D Bent 7. Substitutes: V Corluka 5 (for Zokora, 35min), J O’Hara (for Modric, 82). Not used: C Cudicini, D Bentley, T Huddlestone, R Pavlyuchenko, M Dawson. Next: Chelsea (a).

Referee: S Bennett Attendance: 41,205