Villa concede four against Tottenham as the home side come from behind to thrash the visitors in the second half.
We started the day looking jaded, despite Emery’s decision to rest key players during the mid-week defeat to Palace. Spurs threatened early on but gave Emi Martinez no real issue in the opening minutes, despite their hold on the game. Against the run of play, a wicked cross from Lucas Digne was provided Villa with our first chance of the game. Onana got up well to meet it, but his effort struck the post to the keepers left. Later, just after the half hour mark, Rogers made it 1-0 following a set piece situation which has proven Spurs’ cryptonite in recent times. The visitors went in at half time with a largely undeserved lead based on Spurs dominance in the first 45 and our lack of quality going forward.
Villas lead was short lived, however, as the home side equalised just four minutes into the second half. A quality ball from Son found Brennan Johnson who found space behind the back post and poked home an easy tap in. The momentum with them, Spurs charged forwards again through Udogie, who got the best of Cash and found Solanke on the penalty spot. A bumbling shot which Martinez did well to keep hold of. Villa struggled to keep hold of the ball as Spurs moved forward on the counter. Sarr clattered into Rogers, with the midfielder struggling to shake off the knock. Much to his protest, he was replaced by Duran, likely a strategic move as much as it was a necessity. A well crafted move on the edge of the area brought Digne out of positions leaving Solanke one on one with Dibu. An audacious chip took him out of the game and put Spurs ahead. Our afternoon went from bad to worse when Spurs once again capitalised on our sloppiness in possession. A loose ball from Torres gifted Sarr the counter attacking oppurtunity. Sarr found the onrushing Richarlison who slotted the ball across goal for Solanke to fire home into an empty net. At the death Spurs made it four through a James Maddison free kick, the final nail in Villas coffin.
That was nothing short of embarrassing. Outclassed in every department. Even worse when you consider the resting of players in midweek specifically for games like this. Last season was nothing short of phenomenal, but if we want to be real contenders for the top four once again, we cannot be playing like that against an out of form Spurs. In the final third we look completely out of ideas especially so after taking Rogers off. Our frontline are bang out of form and have looked increasingly uncomposed in front of goal, a cause for concern.
Onto Wednesday. Club Brugge away. UTV.