Probleme » Balsdon Thursday and the Brier rookie from Toronto wasnt gi

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Man of the moment Andros Townsend and Roberto Soldado both scored as Tottenham restated its Champions League credentials with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday. Following a shock 3-0 home defeat to rival West Ham, the London club claimed its fifth league win of the season to move to fifth in the standings, three points behind leader Arsenal. "The opening goal was important to bring confidence and we really played well in the second half," Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas said. "We deserved to go 2-0 up. It was the right response after the defeat by West Ham and it is good to see us near the top." Townsend scored in his England debut last week in a 4-1 win over Montenegro before impressing in a 2-0 victory over Poland that secured a place at next years World Cup. The 22-year-old winger scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham as Spurs broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 31st minute. Soldado doubled the lead in the 69th with a clean finish from Paulinhos clever pass. "Andros Townsend had a great game. He didnt start well but really picked up after his goal. He is a great threat. (With) his pace and ability to beat a man, he takes the team forward," Villas-Boas said. The game started under heavy rain and Aston Villa had the upper hand in the early stages as Spurs looked sloppy and struggled to keep possession. Villas first chance came after 20 minutes when Ashley Westwood produced a good save from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before Andreas Weimann fired a dipping volley from long-range that ended wide. Tottenham then took the lead after both Lewis Holtby and Soldado failed to touch Townsends cross that went straight into the goal at the far post. The match was interrupted for a few minutes after assistant referee David Bryan was hit on the back of the neck by a flare thrown from the crowd just after the goal. The black smoke delayed the restart of the match but Bryan was able to continue. Townsend had another chance to score three minutes later but saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked. Just before halftime Townsend almost doubled his teams lead with a low shot that Guzman did well to keep out with a one-handed save. Tottenham missed another chance in the 49th as Guzman made another superb save to push away Paulinhos effort. Substitute Christian Benteke gave some extra strength to Villa but the powerfully-built Belgium forward headed over the bar from Leandro Bacunas cross. Spurs responded with an impressive collective move concluded by Soldado, who burst into the area to latch onto Paulinhos delicate pass and calmly score. Lebron James Shoes Clearance . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p. Cheap Wholesale Lebrons . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. http://www.wholesalelebron.com/ . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season. Wholesale Lebron Shoes . -- Terry Francona likened the atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday to a playoff game in October. Lebron James Sneakers Wholesale . It was a day that saw England slump off a World Cup field once again battered and bruised. This time there was no red card to wonder about, no goalkeeping error or individual mistake. They were thoroughly beaten by something they have nothing of – genuine world class ability.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Its crunch time on Thursday for two of the top teams at the Canadian mens curling championships as they fight for the right to play in the one vs. two game on Friday. Should B.C.s John Morris win, he would be guaranteed a top-two finish, most likely No. 1 since he handed Alberta their only loss. That victory gave both teams 8-1 records, with Morris getting an edge because his rink won the head-to-head matchup. "We want that one-two game," he said. "If we win tomorrow morning were in the one-two game." Should Manitobas Jeff Stoughton win, he would be in control and need only beat Ontario in the evening draw to ensure a top-two finish. He was just as anxious Wednesday after a win left Manitoba at 7-2. "We play B.C. which is a huge game for us," he said. "We play them in the morning and that could mean getting into the one-two game which is very important." Stoughton looked more in control and said he felt that way as well. Manitoba started with four wins then lost games to Alberta and Quebec but has bounced back. Alberta continued its roll with a 10-5 win over Ontarios Greg Balsdon in Wednesdays evening draw. Kevin Koe and Alberta have only Prince Edward island (3-6) and Quebec (4-4) standing in their way of a guaranteed top-two finish. The late draw had meaning for the teams jockeying for fourth place and a shot at making the final through the 3-4 game. "This was a big bounce-back game," said Saskatchewans Steve Laycock, after beating Prince Edward Island 8-5 to improve to 5-3, good enough for fourth spot. "We had a couple of tough ones in a row against Alberta and Manitoba, which we knew they would be . . . Heading into the final couple of days we know we control our own destiny now." They play Ontario aand B.ddddddddddddC. on Thursday. Ontario fell to 4-4 with the loss to Alberta. "Tomorrows a big one," said Laycock. Earlier, Morris and B.C. scored a big five in the third end and coasted to an 8-3 win in eight over Ontario. Manitobas Stoughton continued to keep the leaders in sight with a 7-4 win over Laycock. Stoughton and third John Mead looked a lot more in control, although they also benefited from Laycocks mistakes. "We got a great deuce in the first end and then it was pretty mistake free," he said. "A lot of great shots made, you have to do that, and it felt pretty good all around for all of our guys." Stoughton also faces Balsdon Thursday and the Brier rookie from Toronto wasnt giving up hope. "Weve got a tough day tomorrow with Saskatchewan and Manitoba but if we can win our last three games, 7-4 . . . should be okay for a tiebreaker anyway." Morris and B.C. are clicking even more than they did at the Olympic trials, where they lost the final to Brad Jacobs. Jim Cotter, who throws fourth stones for B.C., has gained a lot of confidence and it shows, agrees Stoughton. "I think Johns just brought so much confidence to that team. Hes made them believe that theyre a great team, which they obviously are." Morris was ranked as the top third (based on the stones he throws), Cotter the top skip and Rick Sawatsky the top lead in cumulative percentages after the first two draws on Wednesday. Only Manitoba second Mark Nichols stopped it from being a B.C. sweep. Also, Quebecs Jean-Michel Menard still has hope after improving to 4-4 with an 8-3 win over winless Nova Scotias Jamie Murphy. On the outside looking in, New Brunswicks James Grattan sits at 4-5 after beating the Territories Jamie Koe 8-3, leaving Koe at 3-6. ' ' '