Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Martin O'Neill's side a half-time lead with his eighth goal of the season.

But the second half was completely dominated by the visitors as Villa often dragged all 11 players behind the ball before Dawson broke their resistance.

Dawson told ESPN: "I think in the second half we were on top. Villa deserve a lot of credit, they got bodies in the way of the ball.

"It was nice to get the goal but unfortunately we couldn't get the win. In the first half we went in knowing we didn't play as well as we know we can and wanted to get the ball down and play in the second. We did that, and showed what a good team we are."

As for his goal, Dawson said: "It was a nice one, one to treasure!"

Villa defender Carlos Cuellar won the man of the match award for some heroic blocks and said: "We had a chance to get the win and go for the top four with them but I think it was the first half for us and second half for them.

"I think we're happy with one point. We have a good squad and we're going to fight to get into the top four."

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp felt his side did enough to win the game. "For sure, in the second half it was one-way traffic," he told ESPN.

"We settled down after their goal and it was pretty much one-way. At the end when Jermain hit that shot I was waiting for it to hit the net. I'm delighted with how we played, I thought in the second half we played some great football and really made all the chances."

Opposite number O'Neill concurred.

"I thought we played very strongly in the first half and got the goal and always looked dangerous," he said.

"We were strong, quick to the ball, we closed down space very well but in the second half we just couldn't get out. That had a lot to do with Tottenham's expertise on the ball. At the end, the last six or seven minutes of the game - despite Emile Heskey coming very close to scoring - I think we were probably the side hanging on towards the end."