Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa: Watkins assist guests come from behind

As the stadium emptied, the din subsided and a black-and-white portrait of a smiling Terry Venables gazed down from the massive screens, it was tempting to surprise what he would have made from all of it.

Venables was a coach who labored onerous on defensive form. He devoted two periods every week to getting it proper though will at all times be related to fluent groups that went ahead with freedom and journey.

There was definitely an abundance of attacking intent on show on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a day when tributes flowed for the previous England supervisor.

In reality, what adopted the affirmation of his demise on the age of 80, simply two hours earlier than kick-off, was a breathless dedication to aptitude and creativity from either side bordering on sheer recklessness.

The decisive aim was scored by Ollie Watkins to win it for Aston Villa within the second half, a low angled drive from a no-look cross from Youri Teilemans, however the end result actually might have gone both manner.

Both groups squeezed as much as midway leaving area behind and the largest shock was that there was no aim rush from the cascade of openings. Spurs captain Heung-min Son had three dominated out for offside. Villa hero Watkins had one dominated out within the first half, off by the tiniest of margins.

Unai Emery’s crew held out and eased previous Tottenham to go fourth and, though Ange Postecoglou claimed the ‘showreel’ soccer of his depleted crew was nearly as good as something they’ve produced this season, this was a 3rd successive defeat.

A month in the past, they had been clear on the high of the Premier League after a Friday night time victory at Crystal Palace however Spurs start this week outdoors the highest 4 with a visit to Manchester City subsequent and one other damage to digest.

Rodrigo Bentancur, making his first begin since a knee damage in February, harm an ankle in a frenzied first half.

It burst open from the purpose when Matty Cash miscued the primary likelihood inside 30 seconds. Destiny Udogie fired over when clear via, Dejan Kulusevski rattled a publish and Pau Torres headed broad when he ought to have scored.

All this inside 5 minutes, arguably not a shock with Postecoglou responding to his damage disaster by choosing a crew with none recognised centre-halves or holding midfielders.

Emerson Royal and Ben Davies had been paired in central of defence with Bentancur in midfield, flanked by Giovani Lo Celso and Kulusevski.

Postecoglou had made extra logical modifications final day trip towards Wolverhampton Wanderers solely to depart Molineux on that event feeling his crew had misplaced enjoying secure so, right here, he caught Eric Dier and Pierre Emile Hojbjerg again on the bench and went unashamedly onto the entrance foot.

Initially, to nice impact. Spurs burst via Villa’s excessive line to create a wealth of openings and Lo Celso struck halfway via the primary half when a nook that skidded out to him on the fringe of the field.

The Argentine struck it first time and the connection was candy, albeit helped previous Emiliano Martinez by an enormous deflection off the correct knee of Diego Carlos. It was Lo Celso’s first Premier League aim for 3 years.

Watkins thought he had equalised nearly instantly with a header from a free-kick delivered by Lucas Digne however it was dominated out for offside after a three-minute VAR test. It was tight.

When play resumed, Cash took his frustrations out on Bentancur. There was no try and play the ball. It was an old-school hack and though Bentancur tried to proceed, he quickly limped off.

It was a bitter blow for Tottenham, already disadvantaged of so many gamers. Yves Bissouma and Cristian Romero had been serving bans. Sarr, Maddison, Richarlison and Micky van de Ven have joined long-term damage victims Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon on the casualty checklist.

There was needle within the contest from this level. Spurs turned briefly distracted of their dedication to get Cash despatched off or Boubacar Kamara, who was additionally booked throughout this niggly section.

Hojbjerg changed Bentancur, and launched Son to attain the primary of his treble dominated out by the flag. Kulusevski then curled a shot broad earlier than Villa levelled with a Torres header from a free-kick swerved into the penalty space by Douglas Luiz.

The supply was merely astonishing and if Spurs ever seemed weak for his or her absence of centre-halves it was when defending set-pieces. This time, the guests survived a VAR test and the aim would stand.

The second half produced extra of those breathless escapades. Crosses flashed throughout the Villa aim with out a end and Tottenham lived dangerously on the different finish.

Guglielmo Vicario has barely made a mistake since his arrival this yr however let a shot by Leon Bailey slither via his palms. The Italian goalkeeper was relieved when it rebounded his manner off the publish.

Vicario got here out of his aim to clear one other assault with a diving header and located John McGinn, who tried to search out the empty internet with a first-time end on the half-volley from 35 yards. McGinn’s audacious effort sliced off broad of the goal.

Then Watkins quickly fired Villa forward, linking up with Tielemans to attain his twelfth aim of the season for his membership.

Martinez made wonderful saves as Villa defended their lead and no matter Venables may need considered the thrilling ranges of leisure, he would in all probability have most well-liked a house win.