With games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton inside the next month, the Claret and Blue desperately needed to find a long overdue win at Villa Park after Arsenal went above them into fourth spot on Saturday.
But, much to the bemusement of the home faithful, Martin O'Neill's men again contrived to drop points on their own turf thanks to an early strike in either half from Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent.
John Carew, who is one of the few Villa players to earn any credit of late, scored with five minutes to go but his side couldn't find an equaliser which would have seen them leapfrog Arsene Wenger's Gunners.
Villa went into the game on the back of a shocking six game winless run, which had sapped all confidence from the team.
But, the Claret and Blue came out firing on this occasion only to find themselves behind within just four minutes as Aaron Lennon's dangerous centre was only parried by Brad Friedel and Jenas stooped to head into the net.
Villa were anything but disheartened by the early setback and Ashley Young began to show glimpses of his pre-December form as he tormented Spurs full-back Didier Zokora.
Zokora actually struggled so much against Young that Redknapp decided to replace him with Vedran Corluka just 35 minutes into the game.
O'Neill's men pummelled the away defence into submission throughout the first half with Stiliyan Petrov and Emile Heskey both having efforts on goal.
Replay
And it was Heskey who had the best chance as Gareth Barry guided the ball into the box only to see the big England striker divert a powerful header onto the bar.
Villa went into half time wondering how they were still behind, but they needn't have thought about it for too long as they were soon offered an action replay of the opening goal.
Five minutes after the break Lennon again caused problems for the Villa backline and he set up Robbie Keane who steered the ball across the goal mouth for Bent to tap in.
The home crowd were stunned and unsurprisingly seething at watching their side concede again and many fans would have been wondering whether Villa were ever going to win another game.
The well marshalled Spurs defence were intent on keeping a clean sheet with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King at the heart of the back four.
The England defenders rarely line up together but when they do they are one of the best central defensive partnerships in the Premier League and they proved it here.
Gabby Agbonlahor, who has been on a barren run of late, had no answer to the Spurs stoppers and he was withdrawn to a chorus of boos with ten minutes to go.
Jeers are not going to help the young striker regain his confidence but he is merely an outlet for the frustration of the fans, having scored just once in 12 games now.
Fuel
Agbonlahor has been criticised by many for his lazy attitude on the pitch and his lavish lifestyle off it and he will need to pick his form up soon if he is to remain in Villa and England contention.
One man who has not been short on confidence of late is Carew, who was introduced in place of Zat Knight midway through the second period.
The big Norwegian has looked sharp recently and many fans will be wondering why he has not been given a run in the starting line-up.
The striker added yet more fuel to the flames of debate with a late header from James Milner's centre, which gave the home side a glimmer of hope.
But, no more goals were to come and the Villa fans again decided booing was the best option with criticism this time aimed at the whole team and O'Neill.
The Northern Irishman knew that he was taking a risk in resting key first teamers for the Uefa Cup last 32 tie second leg in Moscow and it is a gamble which has now officially backfired.
While Arsenal currently compete successfully on three fronts, Villa are struggling to challenge on one and it begs the question: Have the Claret and Blue wasted the best chance they will ever get of finishing fourth?
The best way to react to a defeat like this is to claim a big win next time out. But it will not just have to be big, it will have to be gargantuan as they travel to on form Liverpool next Sunday.