SPURS HIT BULLSEYE
Ange’s men survive a game of ‘killer’: ‘We’re not dead yet!’
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“Everyone was billing this as a do-or-die for us,” he said. “I assume we’re not dead yet.”
Nothing could be further from the truth after a statement win for Tottenham at Villa Park.
This was one big step forward for the north Londoners – and arguably one step too far for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
The Aussie’s tongue might have been firmly in his cheek when he uttered that sentence, but it carried a hint of truth. Victory for Villa and the gap would have been eight points – and a worse goal difference for Spurs.
As it is, the momentum has now swung massively in favour of Postecoglou and his men.
This was a performance that was as un-spursy as it could be – and low on the usual ridiculous levels of drama that seem to be embedded in the club’s DNA.
They were patient and measured. Deadly when it mattered in one penalty area and ruthless in the other. Two goals in three minutes shortly after the re-start earned them breathing space.
And when Villa skipper John Mcginn saw red for booting Destiny Udogie up in the air with over a quarter of the game to go, there was only ever going to be one winner. By the halfway stage, however, none of this was on the cards.
The opening 45 minutes was something of a non-contest. It was cagey, with neither team possessing the wit to break the other’s high offside line.
That changed a few minutes after the interval. Postecoglou’s team eased the stranglehold when the excellent Dejan Kulusevski threaded a ball down Villa’s left for Pape Matar Sarr to charge onto.
There was still plenty for him to do, but the midfielder produced a cross that could not have been placed any more accurately for James Maddison had he walked the ball over with
his hands. It was of such high quality, in terms of its accuracy and speed, that it would have taken something for Maddison to miss. He didn’t.
If there was a goal that summed up Villa’s afternoon, it was the second that afforded Spurs the necessary breathing space. Ezri Konsa came infield,
searching for a team-mate. He tried to find Youri Tielemans, only for Kulusevski to win possession.
The ball was quickly switched to Heung-min Son, who drew a defender before finding Brennan Johnson and the Wales international netted his third goal in six games. Villa Park was
stunned. So were Emery’s players. It became too much for Mcginn who clattered into Udogie – another one of Spurs’ stand-out performers – right by the visitors’ dug-out.
The reaction of their bench was predictable. As was that of referee Chris Kavanagh, who produced a red card. He didn’t even need to see a re-run via the monitor.
Spurs then proceeded to kill the game as best they could. In the late stages, when Villa were spent, they added two more.
First, Kulusevski crossed for Son to rap home the third. A couple of minutes later, the South Korean set up Timo Werner, who showed plenty of confidence to collect the fourth. Villa’s squad was stretched before this game kicked off. With a threematch ban for Mcginn and a raft of injuries biting hard, Emery has it all to do.
As for the race for the fourth spot, and Champions League football next season, it feels like advantage Spurs. ASTON VILLA (4-4-1-1): Martinez 6, Konsa 6, (Carlos 86) Lenglet 5, (Zaniolo 58, 5) Torres 6, Digne 5; (Moreno 58, 5) Luiz 6, Mcginn 5, Tielemans 5, (Diaby 58, 5) Cash 6; Bailey 5: (Iroegbunam 69, 5) Watkins 5. Subs: Olsen, Duran, Rogers, Kesler-hayden.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-2-3-1): Vicario 6, Porro 6, Romero 7, van de Ven 6, (Dragusin 49, 6) Udogie 7;
Sarr 7, (Benatancur 70, 6) Bissouma 7; Kulusevski 8, Maddison 7,
(Werner 87) Johnson 6; (Hojbjerg
87) Son 7. Subs: Austin, Royal, Lo Celso, Davies, Scarlett.