Easy for Tottenham as Villa capitulate

Tottenham 3 Aston Villa 0

Tottenham and Aston Villa have both fallen short of pre-season expectations, albeit at opposite ends of the table.

Tottenham’s all-too comfortable victory ensured they finished in sixth place and qualify ahead of Manchester United for the Europa League, not the Champions League.

Likely to pay the price for that perceived failure will be Tim Sherwood, whose record since taking over from the sacked Andre Villas-Boas in December has been bettered only by the managers in the top four.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” Villa’s fans taunted. “Bit harsh considering we are 3-0 up,” Sherwood joked with those around him on the touchline.

Daniel Levy did not even mention Sherwood in his programme notes, which noted the team had fallen “well short” of expectations, but it is one of football’s worst-kept secrets that the Spurs chairman is looking to appoint a new manager this summer.

For Villa, the changes could be more profound, with US owner Randy Lerner reported to be on the verge of selling. Paul Lambert’s job may also be under threat if a new owner arrives and the travelling support were calling for him to be sacked as well.

Asked about the takeover, Lambert said: “I’m not sure. I’ll speak to the chairman and respect what he says. I’ve got a lot of time for Randy, but it’s his football club and he’ll decide what’s going to happen.”

Villa are certainly in need of a new approach. They secured a Premier League place only last week, but have now lost seven of nine games and this was another lost cause long before half-time.

Brad Guzan had already made two good saves to deny Spurs striker Harry Kane by the time Paulinho opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Christian Eriksen, the only one of Tottenham’s seven signings last summer to emerge with full credit, found his Brazilian team-mate with a perfect pass, and though Paulinho’s first shot was saved by Guzan, he followed up to prod home the rebound.

Paulinho missed a simple chance moments later, before Kane fired in a low cross that was almost turned into his own net by Nathan Baker. Guzan tipped the ball over but had no chance in the 35th minute when Baker inadvertently headed a cross from Danny Rose past him.

It was effectively over two minutes later when Gabriel Agbonlahor handled a long-range drive from Sandro, and Emmanuel Adebayor smashed home the penalty.

It could’ve been worse but for a strange decision from referee Jon Moss, who awarded Guzan a free-kick instead of sending the Villa keeper off after he rushed out of his area to clatter into Kane as the young striker ran in on goal.

There was still time for another comic moment, as Sherwood invited a Spurs fan to take his place in the dugout for a few minutes, handing over his trademark gilet. “That guy’s an expert, every week he tells me what to do. So I gave him the opportunity to do the job. He bottled it at first but then he swallowed it. It was just good banter,” said Sherwood. More seriously he added: “I have to have a meeting with the chairman and see what the future holds for me and the club.

“I have a 59% win ratio. If I had started the season we would have been in the Champions League,” he added, tongue only slightly in cheek.

“If I’m not to continue here as a manager I’ll be somewhere else. I think a quick decision would make sense.”

TOTTENHAM 4-4-2: Lloris 8; Naughton 7, Dawson 7, Chiriches 7, Rose 7; Sandro 7, Sigurdsson 6, Paulinho 7, Eriksen 9; Kane 7, Adebayor 7. Subs: Veljkovic for Sandro 62, Bentaleb for Paulinho 74, Pritchard for Sigurdsson 82 Subs not used: Friedel, Fryers, Capoue, Soldado ASTON VILLA 4-4-2: Guzan 8; Lowton 6, Vlaar 6, Baker 6, Bertrand 6; Westwood 6, Bacuna 5, Delph 7, Weimann 6; Agbonlahor 5, Bowery 5. Subs: El Ahmadi for Bowery 46, Robinson for Bacuna 82 Subs not used: Steer, Clark, Sylla, Holt, Grealish Ref: J Moss