SPURS will be eager to avoid a repeat of last year s corresponding fixture when they entertain Martin O Neill s Aston Villa at the Lane on Monday night. The Lilywhites were fortunate to come away with a point in the 4-4 thriller after they let an early le

SPURS WILL BE EAGER TO AVOID A REPEAT OF LAST YEAR'S CORRESPONDING FIXTURE WHEN THEY ENTERTAIN MARTIN O'NEILL'S ASTON VILLA AT THE LANE ON MONDAY NIGHT.

THE LILYWHITES WERE FORTUNATE TO COME AWAY WITH A POINT IN THE 4-4 THRILLER AFTER THEY LET AN EARLY LEAD SLIP AND ONLY CLINCHED A POINT IN THE LAST MINUTE THROUGH YOUNES KABOUL.

O'NEILL HAS DONE MUCH TO STRENGTHEN HIS PLAYERS' OUTLOOK SINCE HE WAS APPOINTED MANAGER AT VILLA PARK IN AUGUST 2006 AFTER A SELF-ENFORCED SABBATICAL FROM MANAGEMENT.

THE PASSIONATE IRISHMAN'S TRAITS ARE NOTICEABLE IN HIS SQUAD, WHO REFUSE TO ADMIT DEFEAT AND BOW TO NO-ONE.

FEW WERE SURPRISED LAST SEASON WHEN THE VILLANS BUILT ON THEIR GOOD START AND FINISHED SIXTH IN PREMIER DIVISION WITH 60 POINTS. THE TOP-SIX FINISH EARNED VILLA AN INTERTOTO CUP PLACE.

O'NEILL'S MEN REMAIN UNBEATEN IN FOUR GAMES IN EUROPE THIS SEASON, INCLUDING THE 4-1 AWAY DEFEAT OF FH HAFNARFJORDUR LAST MONTH.

THE VILLANS' WEALTH OF GOALSCORERS WAS APPARENT WHEN GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR NETTED IN THE 38TH MINUTE FOR A 3-0 LEAD AFTER GOALS BY GARETH BARRY AND ASHLEY YOUNG. MARTIN LAURSEN COMPLETED THE SCORING.

AMONG THE FEW NEW FACES AT VILLA ARE CURTIS DAVIES (WEST BROM £8M), BRAD FREIDAL (BLACKBURN £2M) AND FORMER SPUR LUKE YOUNG (BORO), WHO ALL APPEARED IN VILLA'S LAST GAME - A 0-0 DRAW AT ANFIELD - AND STEVEN SIDWELL (CHELSEA £5M).