TOTTENHAM FAIL TO SEE OFF VILLA

TOTTENHAM 0 ASTON VILLA 0

The remarkable Ledley King admits Spurs’ failure to see off inferior teams could wreck a Champions League dream.

The north Londoners were the better side against fellow fourth-spot hopefuls Villa.

But they were unable to break down Martin O’Neill’s resolute outfit, as Harry Redknapp’s men notched up an eighth occasion in the league this season when they have failed to score.

Four have come at home, with the Villa shut-out coming after defeats by strugglers Stoke and Wolves and a draw with Hull.

Revealing how strong his desire was to play in the Champions League, King, 30, said: “It’s something I sit down and watch and look forward to on the Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I probably would have liked to have played it a bit earlier in my career.

“You want to play in those games, with the atmosphere, up against the best players. That’s what you strive to do.

“All the lads here love watching the games and we’ll talk about them on Tuesday and Wednesday leading up to the games. There’s a hunger for us to achieve that.

“There’s been times at home where we haven’t put teams away. Opponents make it difficult for us, they put a lot of bodies behind the ball and it’s down to us to break teams down.

“It’s going to be like that till the end of the season. We believe we can still do it, but it’s going to go down to the wire.”

Never mind King’s Champions League dream, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp reckons the centre-back still has what it takes to play in his first World Cup.

King was picked for an England squad by Fabio Capello back in March, but had to withdraw due to his chronic knee injury which ensures he cannot play successive games for Spurs.

“He is a fantastic player, you’d take him to the World Cup all day long, he’s that good,” said Redknapp.

“He’s desperate to play for England and he’d love to go to South Africa. I think he could go. If you need him he’s there.

“If you lose John Terry or Rio Ferdinand, you know he’s going to come in and do a job for you.

“He’s special, that’s why when he’s fit I play him. I don’t know how he does it, I don’t know anyone like him apart from Paul McGrath.

“He’ll be stiff after this match, his knee will be swollen. This week I’ve got a game on Wednesday at Wolves but I couldn’t play him.

“Next Sunday he could be fit for Bolton. So we’ll juggle around a bit on Wednesday and then see how he is next week.”

In a modern game where players are trained much like thoroughbred racehorses, it is amazing King can still compete at the top level because he does less before each match than your average Sunday League pub player.

Asked what his preparations were, Redknapp replied: “Nothing!

“He works with the physios and maybe will go on the bike or do a bit of swimming. But he doesn’t kick a football or run.

“I don’t really see him until Friday morning. Ideally he comes out and has a warm up. He played against fantastic Villa strikers and did a great job.”

The same could be said for Villa’s central defensive pairing of James Collins and Richard Dunne.

Their efforts were surpassed by keeper Brad Friedel, but the American was less impressed by Spurs fans chanting “boring, boring Villa” – a reference to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger’s claim the Midlanders played long-ball stuff.

“It’s funny and quite strange because a lot of their attacks came from long balls up to Peter Crouch,” said Friedel, who next has to try to keep out Wayne Rooney and Manchester United at Villa Park on Wednesday.

“So I’m not quite sure where those fans are coming from.”

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