Aston Villa have more reason than most to usher in the new year, eager to see the back of 1999 which they entered as Premiership leaders and depart from still striving to prove they are not a club in crisis. Last night they deservedly fought back from Tim Sherwood's thunderous goal to earn a point.
Villa had not lost here to Tottenham in the Premier League, and so inspired had Ian Walker been in the first half it seemed that record would fall. Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Paul Merson fed Ian Taylor and reward was at hand.
For both these sides the additional day's rest was probably an inconvenience; each had won decisively on St Stephen's Day and were doubtless eager to put that confidence to good use as quickly as possible. A near capacity crowd added to the feeling in the Midlands that Villa's fortunes were on the turn.
Gregory's team gave substance to that belief by imposing themselves on Spurs from the start, running keenly in all areas of the field, bringing urgency to their play and gaining encouragement from the early signs that Merson and Benito Carbone were on top of their game.
Julian Joachim was another discomforting presence for the Spurs defence. John Gregory's reminder that he was without a Premiership strike since September and had to start delivering drew a positive response, and his manager would have been pleased to see him beat Sol Campbell to a ball Alan Wright had floated across.
Walker touched the header over but the moment was symbolic of Villa's drive and determination. Joachim's spin and dash along the 18-yard line then led to a shot that rose above the angle.
In the 17th minute Villa's enterprise ought to have put them ahead. An incisive move involving Steve Watson and Merson brought Joachim surging into the area where Walker was required to parry. Taylor was on hand to force the ball home had Stephen Carr not intervened.
The Irishman was well placed again soon afterwards as Carbone led another charge that Watson continued. Spurs were living dangerously at the back and losing the battle in midfield.
There was another let-off for the visitors when Taylor met Merson's free-kick at the far post and nodded across goal where a similar thrust of Joachim's forehead would surely have taken the ball over the line. This time Walker swooped low to his right to push it away with breathtaking agility.
It was somewhat against the run of play therefore when Spurs seized the advantage. David James had not been obliged to make a save up to then; now, with seconds remaining of the first half, he was retrieving the ball from his net after Sherwood, ignoring the options to his right, suddenly let fly from 30 yards, leaving the goalkeeper groping as he found the top corner in thrilling style.
It was a dejected Villa who trooped away to the dressingroom. How could they dominate so much of the game and then fall behind to Tottenham's first effort of note?
Their task would have steepened considerably had James not been at his best in twice denying Steffen Iversen, firstly when the bustling striker was allowed to turn just inside the area and again when Ginola's delivery from the left put the ball on Iversen's head.
Chelsea: De Goey, Lambourde, Thome, Leboeuf, Babayaro, Petrescu, Deschamps (Wise 22), Di Matteo, Ambrosetti (Morris 81), Poyet, Flo (Zola 81). Subs not used: Cudicini, Terry. Booked: Leboeuf. Goals: Wise 31, Flo 34, Morris 83.
Sheffield Wed: Srnicek, Nolan, Walker, Atherton, Hinchcliffe, Alexandersson, Jonk, Sonner (Haslam 61), Briscoe (Sibon 61), De Bilde, Booth (Cresswell 70). Subs not used: McKeever, Pressman. Booked: Booth, Alexandersson.
Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).
