Villa striker Peter Crouch squandered the best chance of the half two minutes before the interval.

BBC: Vassell sinks City

It was Van der Vaart's final contribution as he was replaced by Peter Crouch, with Villa replacing the tiring Fabian Delph with veteran Robert Pires.

BBC: Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham

Carbone then lashed an effort wide on the left before Paul Scholes mustered United's first shot on target with a drive straight at Peter Enckelman in the Villa goal.

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Beyond first-choice strike-duo of Rooney and Aston Villa's Emile Heskey, Capello has called-up Tottenham pair Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, Sunderland's Darren Bent, Heskey's Villa team-mate Gabriel Agbonlahor and West Ham's Carlton Cole ahead of Owen for England's successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

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Fulham's Bobby Zamora and West Ham's Carlton Cole both missed out on a striking berth, with Sunderland's 25-goal frontman Bent, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe of Spurs joining Villa's Emile Heskey and prolific Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney.

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Bradford's best chance of the half came with 10 minutes to go to the interval, as Peter Beagrie crossed low to Windass, who missed the volley, and Villa cleared.

BBC: Bradford 1-1 Aston Villa

Lee Hendrie and Angel stepped over the ball to leave Crouch with only Peter Schmeichel to beat but his low shot was not cleanly hit and the former Villa keeper saved easily.

BBC: Vassell sinks City

Keane had become Benitez's number one summer target over recent weeks, with the need to replace Peter Crouch, who joined Portsmouth earlier this month, seemingly more important than pursuing the protracted move for Aston Villa's 27-year-old midfielder Gareth Barry.

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