Golden oldie Teddy Sheringham earned Tottenham their first league win at Villa Park in 17 seasons.

The 36-year-old volleyed home a right-wing cross from Stephen Carr to bolster Spurs chances of securing a UEFA Cup spot.

It was a stark contrast to their last showing away from White Hart Lane when they were humiliated 4-0 at Southampton in the FA Cup.

But for Villa their hopes of achieving the late-season push up the table demanded by manager Graham Taylor are looking remote and on this evidence mid-table obscurity looks to be the limit of their capabilities.

Taylor has bemoaned his side's failure to tuck away their chances but on this occasion they created precious little for strikers Dion Dublin and Co.

Gareth Barry tried his best on the left side of midfield to galvanise his side but there was no spark in the centre of the park.

And, on the few occasions Villa did sniff a chance of a goal, they found Spurs centre-back and man of the match Dean Richards in commanding form while Robbie Keane always threatened danger.

Tottenham began brightly and Villa keeper Peter Enckelman was forced to beat out a Keane effort from a narrow angle after he had latched onto a reverse pass from Simon Davies.

But there were precious few moments of excitement in the opening 45 minutes which only came to life in the final third of the half.

Stefan Moore spun away from the Tottenham defence and set up a chance for Dublin with his low cross but his effort at the near post was deflected by Richards for a corner.

Spurs keeper Kasey Keller dealt comfortably with a low 25- yard effort from Barry and then Mark Delaney, playing his first match for two months after a foot injury, was yellow-carded for a crude challenge on Goran Bunjevcevic.

Dublin was looking to hit the target for the fifth successive Premiership match and he was only a foot wide with a looping header from a deep right-wing centre by Olof Mellberg.

But Spurs suddenly came to life just before the interval and the home side were relieved to go in on level terms.

A short corner move involving Darren Anderton and Davies set up a chance for Stephen Carr who saw his fierce deflected drive beaten away by Enckelman.

Then in injury time Spurs were denied by the woodwork. Anderton's corner was met at the far post by Richards whose header contained plenty of power but cannoned back off the angle of post and crossbar.

Then, after the ball had been lofted back into the area, Keane reacted first to find the back of Villa's net but he had clearly strayed offside.

Villa manager Taylor made a double half-time substitution, bringing on Darius Vassell and Ulises de la Cruz in place of Moore and Lee Hendrie.

Vassell was soon in the thick of the action and it needed a superb tackle by Richards to deny him after he had burst into the penalty area.

Keane was looking the most likely to break the deadlock for Tottenham although Enckelman dealt easily enough with a 20-yard effort while Gus Poyet dragged his shot from the same distance past the post.

Darren Anderton became the first Tottenham player to collect a yellow card for his challenge on Barry.

Keane beat the offside trap to race onto Davies' crossfield pass but after skipping past Delaney he shot into the side-netting.

Villa now only threatened spasmodically although Ian Taylor must be wondering how he failed to connect with De la Cruz's right-wing cross.

But after 69 minutes the evergreen Sheringham finally broke the deadlock with the kind of goal that has been his trademark.

He ghosted away from his markers to meet a right-wing cross from Stephen Carr and made no mistake with his close- range volley.

Villa tried to salvage a point and Keller blocked a low drive from De La Cruz with his feet but Richards and Co stood firm.

Teams:

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hitzlsperger, Hendrie (De la Cruz 45), Taylor, Barry, Dublin (Crouch 78), Moore (Vassell 45).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Postma.

Booked: Delaney.

Tottenham: Keller, Taricco, King, Richards, Carr, Poyet (Freund 81), Anderton, Davies, Bunjevcevic, Sheringham, Keane.

Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Perry, Iversen, Acimovic.

Booked: Anderton, Bunjevcevic, Keane.

Goals: Sheringham 69.

Att: 38,576

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).