Premier League: Aston Villa v Tottenham match preview

A look ahead to Boxing Day’s Premier League fixture at Villa Park

Jan Vertonghen (third from left) celebrates his winning goal for Tottenham (Getty Images)

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Aston Villa.

Villa have won only one of their last seven fixtures against Spurs at Villa Park.

Defeat at Stamford Bridge ended a five-game unbeaten Premier League run for Paul Lambert's side. Lambert's team are the Premier League's joint lowest scorers.

Aston Villa skipper Ron Vlaar (calf), Gabriel Agbonlahor (thigh) and Charles Nzogbia (knee) all face late fitness tests. Darren Bent is out with a a hamstring injury.

Clint Dempsey is a doubt with a groin problem, but Benoit Assou-Ekotto could return from a knee injury for Tottenham. Scott Parker could earn his first start of the season.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Tottenham 2 (Caulker, Lennon), Premier League, October 2012

Aston Villa 1 (Clark) Tottenham 1 (Adebayor), May 2012

Tottenham 2 (Adebayor 2) Aston Villa 0, Premier League, November 2011

STATS…

Defeat at Stamford Bridge ended a five-game unbeaten Premier League run for Paul Lambert's side.

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight matches against Aston Villa (W5, D3) since a 2-1 home defeat in September 2008.

Villa have taken just 18 points from their last 21 home league matches (W3, D9, L9).

Spurs have lost three of their last four Premier League away games.

Tottenham have suffered only two defeats in their last 18 Premier League games in the month of December

ODDS…

Aston Villa to win: 3.65

Tottenham to win: 2.2

Draw: 3.55

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

TV: Live on Sky Sports 5.30pm, Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm on MOTD