At times, it can be simple to get caught up in the score. This match was intense between two teams rejuvenated by clever hiring decisions from their managers and there is a desire to claim that the shift in momentum occurred when Unai Emery was able to regroup during halftime with a comfortable lead. Emery, who is too clever to be deceived by Pau Torres’ equalizer after a period of impressive play from Tottenham, took proactive measures during the break and it’s clear that Aston Villa was much stronger after bringing Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey onto the field at the beginning of the second half.
The outcome was significant, especially since it was Tielemans who made the crucial pass that allowed Ollie Watkins to move past his underwhelming performance for England and score the goal that propelled Villa within two points of the top of the standings. However, despite Watkins’s winning goal setting a new club record of 22 Premier League victories in a single year, this match could have easily gone either way. While Villa deserves recognition for their determination in bouncing back from Giovani Lo Celso’s early goal, credit must also be given to Spurs for putting up a strong fight on a day where they were dealing with the departure of their former manager, Terry Venables.
A victory for Spurs would not have been unjust. Despite suffering a third consecutive loss, some may point to this as a sign that the positive atmosphere under manager Ange Postecoglou is waning. However, they performed admirably despite the absence of key players. As for Spurs, who have now dropped to fifth place behind Villa, their performance is bound to improve once their top players return.
Venables would surely have appreciated the tactics of Postecoglou and Emery, as both managers had their teams playing with a high intensity from the beginning. The game was action-packed and there were opportunities for both teams to score within the first five minutes. Spurs’ Udogie and Kulusevski posed a threat, with the latter hitting the crossbar after a great connection with Son Heung-min. Villa also had dangerous chances from crosses. Torres was shocked when he missed a header from only six yards out.
There was not a moment to catch one’s breath. Despite recent losses to Chelsea and Wolves, Spurs showed no signs of being discouraged. They continued to play aggressively, with constant attacks coming from all directions. Udogie and Pedro Porro, who were supposed to be playing as full-backs, often moved inside to act as quarter-backs, while also making effective runs behind Villa’s defense.
The fans at home were delighted. They believe that Postecoglou is a manager who respects the club’s tradition of attacking football. Tottenham holds their history in high regard. Prior to the game, they paid tribute to Venables, who led the team to win the FA Cup in 1967 as a player and in 1991 as a manager. The nostalgia continued as the team sheets were revealed; Postecoglou, who had limited options due to injuries and suspensions of key players, chose to use a back four made up entirely of full-backs, with only one defensive midfielder. Additionally, Bryan Gil and Lo Celso were given their first starts in the league this season, reminiscent of Ossie Ardiles’ style.
It was an absolute blast. As Spurs increased their pressure, Villa quickly became trapped in their own end. Gil challenged Emi Martínez after receiving a beautiful pass from Kulusevski, and Villa continued to gamble by playing with a high defensive line.
The sole unexpected event was when Spurs scored first from a set piece. Porro’s corner from the right was hit low and bounced through a crowd of players, reaching Lo Celso who was unmarked. He took a powerful shot that beat Martínez with a slight deflection off Diego Carlos.
Villa was struggling and on the verge of conceding another goal as Kulusevski narrowly missed a shot. Spurs dominated the midfield, overpowering Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara. Emery’s decision to play Matty Cash in an advanced role was ineffective, as his only noteworthy action was receiving a yellow card for a foul that caused Rodrigo Bentancur to be substituted in the 32nd minute. This was Bentancur’s first start since sustaining a knee injury in February.
However, Villa managed to make a strong comeback. Due to Eric Dier’s absence, Ben Davies and Emerson Royal had to step in for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in the central defense, making Spurs more vulnerable. Without any strong leaders in the backline, Villa believed they had equalized just after Lo Celso’s goal. However, a lengthy VAR review revealed that Watkins was offside when he scored with a header from Lucas Digne’s cross, ending their hopes.
No matter. Villa had seen a route to goal and, having escaped when Son had a goal disallowed for offside, they scored a straightforward equaliser in the seventh minute of added time. Douglas Luiz delivered a free-kick from the right, Davies lost Torres and the defender’s header beat Vicario.
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Emery was not pleased with the situation. He substituted Cash and Moussa Diaby during halftime, bringing on Tielemans and Bailey to create a more well-rounded Villa team, which shifted the atmosphere. Despite Tottenham’s continued dominance, Son took a shot at Martínez while Brennan Johnson narrowly missed reaching Kuluseveki’s cross, but Villa’s confidence was increasing. Bailey nearly caught Vicario off guard with a 20-yard shot.
The Spurs struggled defensively, especially since Pierre-Emile Højbjerg did not provide as much protection as Bentancur. Villa started to pass the ball more precisely. In the 61st minute, they set themselves up for a good scoring opportunity. Bailey passed to Watkins, who then played a quick exchange with Tielemans before scoring a goal against Vicario.
Spurs made a comeback. Porro shot towards Martínez and Davies missed with a header. Johnson impressed with a skilled turn, but Martínez was at the top of his game. The Villa goalkeeper rushed out to block Johnson’s attempt, and then stretched to stop Højbjerg’s long-distance shot.
Vicario was occupied with saving shots from McGinn and Kamara. Were Tottenham losing their energy? Postecoglou could only have eight substitutes, which included goalkeepers, and this lack of depth has become a problem. Aston Villa were thankful for the choices on their substitutes’ bench.
Despite their efforts, Spurs were unable to earn a point. Porro’s shot hit the woodwork and Son’s rebound was disallowed due to an offside call. Unfortunately, they were unable to score.
Source: theguardian.com
