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Redknapp has no complaints over Defoe red card

Jermain Defoe was shocked to see the red card © PA Photos

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Spurs boss Harry Redknapp did not criticise referee Martin Atkinson following Jermain Defoe's sending off in Sunday's 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.

Defoe was dismissed in the 27th minute after he caught James Collins in the face with a dangerous elbow. The striker looked bemused as he headed for the tunnel, but Redknapp had no complaints, although he was not pleased with the official's overall performance.

''I haven't seen it (the red card) since, but at the time I didn't have any arguments,'' Redknapp said. ''I certainly wouldn't say I think he would go at the player intentionally though.

''Maybe it was just a little centre forward's challenge. The referee is a good referee, but he had a bad game.''

Redknapp was keen to compliment his team's display, adding: ''It was an excellent performance. We started brightly and went one-up. Losing Jermain Defoe obviously made it difficult, but we kept the ball well in the first half. It was a bit more difficult to do that in the second half.

''I said at half-time we could hit them on the break, which we did. It was a fantastic second goal. The movement by Gareth [Bale] and then the finish by Rafa [Van der Vaart].''

Tottenham striker Van der Vaart hailed the spirit of his side after his two goals helped Spurs to victory despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men.

''It's always a difficult game, they've a very good team. It was very good win away with 10 men,'' Van der Vaart told Sky Sports 1. ''It was difficult, we were down to 10 men, but we did a great job and fought to the end.'' Asked which goal he enjoyed most, the Dutchman added: ''The second one. It was really important and then I had a feeling we were going to win this game.''

Michael Dawson also enthused about the away performance, which leaves Spurs a point behind second-placed Chelsea, who travel to Arsenal on Monday.

''The squad we have is fantastic. We are going places,'' he said. ''When you go down to 10 men at Villa and get three points that is a good sign. We had to play with two banks of four with Rafa up front for so long. It just shows the spirit we've got.''

Villa boss Gerard Houllier was not downbeat despite the loss leaving his side just four points above the drop zone.

''I think it is a poor result, but not a poor performance,'' the Frenchman said. ''Maybe with a bit of luck we could have had a second goal. 'But their second goal killed us, even if in second half showed we could have got something from the game.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.